as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
a well-intentioned but feckless response to the rise in school violence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 feckless
Their corrupt and incompetent government and feckless international institutions have been totally unable to protect them.
—
Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Indeed, when feckless opinions driven by ideology become the basis for crafting laws and policies, everyone suffers.
—Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
On a good day, the Undervale houses maybe two living human guests and at least a couple dozen haunts of all demographics, time periods and modes of death — including the brother Katherine inherited it all from, the cheerfully feckless Nathan (Will Forte).
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
This article is not useful to most of us, because 90% of towns and cities in this country are locked into a single ISP, effectively local monopolies legitimized by the feckless FCC, Congress, and state legislatures.
—Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feckless
Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Indeed, when feckless opinions driven by ideology become the basis for crafting laws and policies, everyone suffers.
—Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
On a good day, the Undervale houses maybe two living human guests and at least a couple dozen haunts of all demographics, time periods and modes of death — including the brother Katherine inherited it all from, the cheerfully feckless Nathan (Will Forte).
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
This article is not useful to most of us, because 90% of towns and cities in this country are locked into a single ISP, effectively local monopolies legitimized by the feckless FCC, Congress, and state legislatures.
—Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feckless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feckless
Adjective
-
His work there included an unsuccessful effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, which drew congressional scrutiny.—
Dan Sullivan,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Attempts to reach Coplan and Jones individually were unsuccessful.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Compared to many other countries, Texas wastes an extraordinary amount of water through outdated infrastructure, inefficient consumption, and lack of innovation.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Because the tasks are highly repetitive and frequently hampered by inefficient processes, the work can feel unfulfilling.—
Alex Hawkinson,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Besson takes real liberties with Stoker’s original saga too, hinting at a purposeful attempt to reframe Dracula as a sly romantic hero that winds up looking like just another ineffectual vampire movie instead.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The lawyer, Martin Roth, cited his client's ineffectual defense, his mental health and his age.—
Greg Allen,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Sitting inside feels spiritually counterproductive.—
Hannah Towey,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Top Tyler leaders haven’t been thrilled with Pappas either, replying to her letters by defending their work and characterizing her correspondence as counterproductive and at times, misleading or hyperbolic.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Feckless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feckless. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
