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
1
as in conclusiveness
the capacity to persuade
the "guilty" verdict was all the proof needed of the effectiveness of the prosecutor's closing argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in efficacy
the power to produce a desired result
the huge upsurge in sales pretty much demonstrated the effectiveness of the new ad campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
your writing lacks effectiveness because practically every sentence is in the passive voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
effective communication
meaningful communication
persuasive communication
good communication
successful communication
essential communication
an effective dose
effective management
productive management
successful management
proper management
high-impact management
efficient management
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
Julia Ries, Health, 22 May 2025
Building effective dashboards requires moderate Notion skills but minimal ongoing maintenance.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
But the past has shown external pressure – especially from Washington – can be effective.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 May 2025
India is a huge democracy and an effective economic and political counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific region.
—Christopher Shays, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for effective
Adjective
Most studies investigate how effective a workout plan is over eight to 16 weeks.
—Julia Ries, Health, 22 May 2025
Building effective dashboards requires moderate Notion skills but minimal ongoing maintenance.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
But the past has shown external pressure – especially from Washington – can be effective.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 May 2025
India is a huge democracy and an effective economic and political counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific region.
—Christopher Shays, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for effective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effective
Adjective
-
Life hacks are methods for making daily tasks easier, more efficient, or more enjoyable.—
Paul McClure
May 24,
New Atlas,
24 May 2025
-
It's powered by the fast and efficient S10 chip and boasts tons of health, fitness, and lifestyle features, including GPS workout recording, ECG, sleep and cycle tracking, music, podcast, and third-party app support.—
Cierra Cowan,
PC Magazine,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
This $150 price drop is a pretty compelling reason to pick one up, whether for yourself or for a grad in your life.—
& John Mihaly,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
-
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.—
Jackie Fields,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Four road trips into this year, however, no trickle-down effect has been as lauded as the changes the Dodgers have made to their actual travel schedule.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
-
This is an exuberant, visually stylish imagining of soccer that, say some critics who played the beta preview, gets tantalizingly close to the pure physical joy of kicking an actual soccer ball around with your friends.—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Moreover, researchers have conducted thorough evaluations of the vaccines in pregnant women, confirming their safety and efficacy in this demographic.—
Dave Wessner,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
-
Realistically, this Phase I trial – which tests for safety and efficacy, as well as dose parameters – should be completed by some time next year, and if successful will move to the next stage, involving a larger population.—
Bronwyn Thompson,
New Atlas,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s deregulation and spending cuts, particularly via the Department of Government Efficiency, could also reduce the government’s costs and negate some of the impact of the tax cuts on the surging federal debt.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
29 May 2025
-
The justices said claims of the potential impact on the environment have been used too often to delay or block new projects.—
David G. Savage,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
These messages are far more convincing than the sloppy scams of the past.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2025
-
If their impressive durability isn’t convincing enough to add them to your virtual cart, the set’s 6,000-plus five-star ratings should be.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
All of his links to the real world are frayed or contrived.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025
-
The story spans 20 years as survivors work to clear one suspect’s name and uncover the real culprit.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Resilient Test Intelligence: Test assets maintain validity through UI modernization cycles, preserving institutional knowledge across product iterations.—
Asad Khan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
Moreover, this objection undermines the validity of your career.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Effective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effective. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share