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effective communication
meaningful communication
persuasive communication
good communication
successful communication
essential communication
an effective tool
an useful tool
an efficient tool
a potent tool
a powerful tool
a viable tool
an effective dose
a sufficient dose
an adequate dose
a potent dose
a healthy dose
effective management
productive management
successful management
proper management
high-impact management
efficient management

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective effective contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of effective are effectual, efficacious, and efficient. While all these words mean "producing or capable of producing a result," effective stresses the actual production of or the power to produce an effect.

an effective rebuttal

When can effectual be used instead of effective?

The words effectual and effective can be used in similar contexts, but effectual suggests the accomplishment of a desired result especially as viewed after the fact.

the measures to stop the pilfering proved effectual

When could efficacious be used to replace effective?

The words efficacious and effective are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, efficacious suggests possession of a special quality or virtue that gives effective power.

a detergent that is efficacious in removing grease

Where would efficient be a reasonable alternative to effective?

While in some cases nearly identical to effective, efficient suggests an acting or a potential for action or use in such a way as to avoid loss or waste of energy in effecting, producing, or functioning.

an efficient small car

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of effective Brown accounted for four of those free-throw attempts, and the rest came from Boston’s effective bench, with Pritchard, Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis making all eight of their first-half freebies. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025 Even more surprising is that the chefs remained pretty efficient and effective, despite the clock actually ticking down in real time. Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 9 May 2025 Antivenoms that are effective across a range of snakes do exist, but this is the first one to use a synthetic antibody, according to NPR. Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025 Content oversight and quality assurance provided by Studio 1847 As online learning for K-12 students continues to expand in K-12 education, effective assessment strategies are more critical than ever. Ascend Agency, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for effective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effective
Adjective
  • Airlines, including United, are working with the FAA to address the issues and ensure safe and efficient air travel.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • Regular interaction expands potential deal flow and positions you as a credible and efficient buyer, capable of quickly responding when attractive opportunities arise.
    Paul Davis, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • Major gift programs in particular rely on an executive director or CEO communicating a compelling vision for the future in one-to-one and small group settings.
    Victoria Burkhart, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Crypto deals raise questions Unless court orders are narrowly tailored to only cover the actual litigants, the administration argues, judges will have too much power to stall crucial presidential actions.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Those three projects, officially housing around 5,000 souls but probably double or triple that number in actual head count, are each unofficially run by a gang.
    Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • After a convincing defeat to a team looking to get back to the Cup Final, the question is, how close is Vegas’ championship window to closing?
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Drucker is able to conjure a frosty authority that is entirely convincing, while simultaneously hinting at vulnerabilities that nobody within the narrative is allowed to see.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Thus, taken together, these statistics suggest outcomes that are mainly static or negative, including real harm in the form of suspensions.
    Christopher J. Ferguson, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
  • The ceasefire should last for 30 days to give diplomacy a real chance.
    Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • As an option, have a separate, conclusive AI to summarize everything and produce the final answers.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
  • This observation provided the first conclusive evidence for the existence of the cosmic behemoth at the core of a galaxy.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a preview of The 1600—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.
    Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
  • Imagine getting together online with a community where the AI can determine if what is said is factual, and rather than being a spectator like on an ‘X spaces’ (formerly Twitter), the interaction is warm, like being with friends at a dinner party.
    Larry Dvoskin, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Effective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effective. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on effective

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