as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
a well-intentioned but feckless response to the rise in school violence
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Recent Examples of feckless
His bossy attitude soon puts him in the crosshairs of a mischievous quartet: Olivia’s drunken uncle, Sir Toby Belch (Kevin Theis), and his feckless buddy, Sir Andrew Aguecheek (J Cody Hunt), along with two members of Olivia’s household staff, Maria (Julia Rowley) and Fabian (Kason Chesky).
—
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
As Vinayak recounts his family’s history, the men were feckless and the women saved the day.
—Radha Vatsal
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Delegitimizing the judiciary, the last constitutional brake when the legislature is co-opted and feckless?
—Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Compare this to the feckless impotence of Donald Trump or Andrew Cuomo.
—Steven W. Thrasher
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for feckless
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
As Vinayak recounts his family’s history, the men were feckless and the women saved the day.
—Radha Vatsal
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Delegitimizing the judiciary, the last constitutional brake when the legislature is co-opted and feckless?
—Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Compare this to the feckless impotence of Donald Trump or Andrew Cuomo.
—Steven W. Thrasher
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for feckless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feckless
Adjective
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Neighbors attempted to rescue her but were unsuccessful, the sheriff’s office said.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The current governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, is a close ally of Trump, frequently appearing on the 2024 campaign trail with the then-candidate amid a push to try to flip Virginia red, which was unsuccessful yet yielded a close race.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There were two other good starts in there as well, but over his last three, he’s been inefficient at best and uncompetitive at worst.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
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Extracting plant dyes, whittling a spoon, making felt—these projects are inefficient and, Ginn argues, extremely satisfying.—
Sophia Stewart,
The Atlantic,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge The Doctor Foster and The Crown actor will portray the bumbling and ineffectual Minister for Magic during Harry's time at Hogwarts.—
Marni Rose McFall
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
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From the April 2024 issue: A bloody retelling of Huckleberry Finn During the Civil War, Twain saw brief, ineffectual combat in a Confederate militia.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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This can be counterproductive for long-term weight management, as muscle loss can lower the number of calories burned at rest.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
29 July 2025
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Observers have noted that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be counterproductive for Iran, which relies on the waterway to get its own oil to customers, mostly in China.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Feckless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feckless. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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