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

The selection of Woods signifies a shift toward some youth for the Chiefs, who unsuccessfully tried to cycle through ineffective veterans alongside Jones over the last few seasons. —Grace Raynor, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2026

And indeed recent reports suggest that some employees are sabotaging their companies’ AI rollouts by misusing AI tools, generating poor work to make AI appear ineffective, or outright refusing to employ the technology. —Claire Zillman, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Without this kind of research, states may promote ineffective textbooks and leave schools with a confusing choice on which textbooks to use. —Shawn Datchuk, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026

But 7,349 feet can still make a humidor relatively ineffective. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 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