ineffective

adjective

in·​ef·​fec·​tive ˌi-nə-ˈfek-tiv 

1

: not producing an intended effect : ineffectual

ineffective lighting

an ineffective treatment

2

: not capable of performing efficiently or as expected : incapable

an ineffective executive

ineffectively adverb

ineffectiveness noun

Synonyms of ineffective

• unsuccessful
• inefficient
• counterproductive

Examples of ineffective in a Sentence

The treatment was ineffective against the disease.

an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump responded sharply the following day, criticizing the pope's leadership and accusing him of being weak on crime and ineffective on foreign policy. —Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026

Other management methods, such as traps, have so far been ineffective. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

But scores of frustrated residents denounced the policy during a three-hour council meeting as weak and ineffective. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026

Otherwise, aeration may be ineffective. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ineffective

• intellective
• introspective
• irrespective
• nondirective
• nonselective
• retrospective
• unreflective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective

Kids Definition

ineffective

adjective

in·​ef·​fec·​tive ˌin-ə-ˈfek-tiv 

1

: not producing the desired effect

an ineffective law

2

: not performing as well as expected or needed

an ineffective leader

ineffectively adverb

ineffectiveness noun