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
What remains a mystery is why Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been so ineffective on offense.
—
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Nissan leadership has been ineffective for more than two decades.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Continue reading … 'NOT PLAYING NICE' – David Hogg donates $100K to DCCC after plan to primary 'ineffective' Democrats ignited civil war in party.
—FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The White House takes aim at the Biden administration and Democrats’ handling of the pandemic, arguing lockdowns were detrimental, masks were ineffective, and the 6-foot distance rule was arbitrarily made up by Fauci.
—Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Nissan leadership has been ineffective for more than two decades.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Continue reading … 'NOT PLAYING NICE' – David Hogg donates $100K to DCCC after plan to primary 'ineffective' Democrats ignited civil war in party.
—FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The White House takes aim at the Biden administration and Democrats’ handling of the pandemic, arguing lockdowns were detrimental, masks were ineffective, and the 6-foot distance rule was arbitrarily made up by Fauci.
—Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
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Each unsuccessful vote will be burned in a furnace with chemicals to dye the plume a black color.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
2 May 2025
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During his unsuccessful 2022 congressional bid, Kent consulted with Nick Fuentes, the young white supremacist, and hired a campaign adviser who was a member of the Proud Boys, a violent far-right group.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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These results, though significant, don’t necessarily mean that efforts to effectively mitigate deepfakes are futile.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2025
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The similarly futile attempts to portray John Walker as a flawed but good man, despite his callous rage and murderous tendencies?—
Nola Pfau,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The inefficient conversion method provides further evidence that this was indeed a theft rather than a legitimate holder diversifying their portfolio.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Using one that’s old and worn out will be inefficient at best and give you a rash or razor burn at worst.—
Megan Gustashaw,
Glamour,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In one sense, Henry is the kind of useless man who creates hard times with his own passivity.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2025
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Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin Like many a controversial Y2K trend, the useless hip belt has made its way back into the sartorial zeitgeist with trendsetters like Emily Ratajkowski and Dua Lipa reviving the aesthetic in recent seasons.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some constitutional scholars still maintain that hair-on-fire rhetoric about the demise of the republic is counterproductive.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
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Peter Ricci, director of the hospitality and tourism management program at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business, predicted the measure, if passed would be counterproductive.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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