1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation
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2
as in futile
producing no results
an ineffective medication that will be denied FDA approval
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ineffective
Trump continues to dismiss Bolton as disloyal and ineffective, while Bolton has positioned himself as one of Trump's fiercest Republican critics, arguing that the former president is unfit for office and a danger to national security.
—
Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
khaleda Rahman
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This process is largely ineffective at temperatures under 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit (10,000 degrees Celsius).
—Perri Thaler, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
That’s where the sandwich comes in — a mockery of the military presence, so obviously ineffective that it was supposed to make the whole situation look stupid.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Across the country, woke prosecutors implemented no-bail policies or avoided jail time for juveniles, but these approaches have proven ineffective.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
khaleda Rahman
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This process is largely ineffective at temperatures under 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit (10,000 degrees Celsius).
—Perri Thaler, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
That’s where the sandwich comes in — a mockery of the military presence, so obviously ineffective that it was supposed to make the whole situation look stupid.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Across the country, woke prosecutors implemented no-bail policies or avoided jail time for juveniles, but these approaches have proven ineffective.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
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As in the first case, life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
18 Aug. 2025
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According to the coroner, the umbilical cord was not cut and an attempt to deliver the placenta at an unknown time the next morning was unsuccessful.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Bodyguard of Lies, an investigation into the United States’ bloody, costly, and ultimately futile war in Afghanistan, will open theatrically for a limited run in New York on September 12, before bowing on the Paramount+ platform on Sept. 23.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 Aug. 2025
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But given the likely futile nature of the Braves' remaining games at that point, he might unofficially be done for the year.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on windmills on Wednesday, again calling the renewable energy source inefficient and expensive, just a day after his administration unveiled new tariffs on wind turbines.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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Much of the current focus and available funding is directed at deploying existing, often inefficient, technologies through subsidies and large-scale infrastructure projects.—
Rob van Straten,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Likewise, even the best dashboard is useless if your team doesn't use it.—
Ramachander Rao Thallada,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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One newspaper here calling the summit, sickening, shameful, and, in the end, useless.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Aug. 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
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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