1
as in efficient
producing or capable of producing a desired result
an effective treatment of the once-dreaded disease gave an effective speech that won over many undecided voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compelling
having the power to persuade
made an effective argument in favor of the proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
made the mistake of confusing the plant's production capacity with its effective output
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of effective
Eli Lilly is similarly developing a new injectable GLP-1, retatrutide, that appears to be even more effective than the current drugs on the market—and which the company confirmed is not currently included in its agreement with the White House.
—
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
An Ohio native known for his effective sinker, Stammen is fifth in Padres history with 333 appearances for the club.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The men had not had effective representation, the justices ruled.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 7 Nov. 2025
To prevent the virus, the health department said the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine can be an effective measure.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effective
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
An Ohio native known for his effective sinker, Stammen is fifth in Padres history with 333 appearances for the club.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The men had not had effective representation, the justices ruled.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 7 Nov. 2025
To prevent the virus, the health department said the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine can be an effective measure.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effective
Adjective
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Young was remarkably efficient, throwing three TD passes of 30-plus yards and going 15-for-20 for 206 yards.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The problem is Herro provided the bench’s only efficient production against the Timberwolves.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Department stores still have to make a compelling case for consumers to come back.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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North Carolina is renowned for its music, creativity, and breathtaking mountain views, but its large-scale artworks offer another compelling reason to visit the state.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Carote 16-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set The right nonstick cookware can be an actual kitchen game changer—and Carote’s 16-piece set delivers on that promise.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Everything was really incorrect for the period—shiny, sparkly, overdone—but the actual shapes and silhouettes of his clothes are quite accurate.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Gators found their offensive flow and applied the defensive clamps against the high-scoring Bulldogs during a convincing and pivotal 92-77 win Tuesday night at the O’Connell Center.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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After pulling away in the second half, Old Rochester continued building league momentum with a convincing 54-32 victory.—
Zach McMahon,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The defense bent a lot and didn’t break often but didn’t have any real signature plays.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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While some calas are accessible by car, others can only be reached by a short hike—that’s where visitors will find the real magic and privacy.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Though home blood pressure monitors are effective, a healthcare provider can provide more accurate and conclusive results.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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Despite numerous conclusive assessments that the Saudi regime planned and perpetrated Khashoggi’s murder, the high-level officials who ordered his execution have gone unpunished, six years on.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But under questioning from Cruz, Vladeck conceded that approving a nondisclosure order without any factual proffer would be inconsistent with a judge’s oath, if that hypothetical were true.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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The producer is Angie Daniell, the casting director is Jenny Duffy, the factual producer is Louise Kentleton and director of production is Lianne Hickey.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
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But despite strong technical progress, widespread adoption remains challenging due to cost, infrastructure demands, and limited technological maturity.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Effective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effective. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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