1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
That worked, and Minnesota’s base defense – an elite weapon for much of the year – has been rendered ineffective through two games of this series.
—
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
The active ingredients in sunscreen break down and become ineffective when exposed to heat and light, and moisture can cause mold or yeast to grow.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
This encompasses weak network security, ineffective firewalls, insufficient intrusion detection and prevention systems and inadequate access controls.
—Dewayne Hart, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
At least for now, the biggest differentiator between effective and ineffective use of AI for marketing strategy or content production is the human in the driver’s seat.
—Andrew Allen, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
The active ingredients in sunscreen break down and become ineffective when exposed to heat and light, and moisture can cause mold or yeast to grow.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
This encompasses weak network security, ineffective firewalls, insufficient intrusion detection and prevention systems and inadequate access controls.
—Dewayne Hart, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
At least for now, the biggest differentiator between effective and ineffective use of AI for marketing strategy or content production is the human in the driver’s seat.
—Andrew Allen, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
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Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
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One game after the Oilers were unsuccessful in challenging that Bennett interfered with Stuart Skinner during the game’s first goal, Bennett toppled over Skinner after getting contact from Ekholm later in the period.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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The fight against short-term rentals, after all, can be futile.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
6 June 2025
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But without Congress actually enacting the DOGE cuts into law, history will show this entire exercise to have been largely futile.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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But banking on state governments to match the resources of the federal government—cash, expertise, largess—is an inefficient use of funds, as states in most cases have to stay in the black and cannot use debt for operations like a from-the-ground-up rebuild.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
29 May 2025
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All year long the Red Sox have been plagued by inconsistent offense, inefficient pitching and inexplicable lapses on defense and on the base paths.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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For one, any melasma treatment is practically useless without them.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
24 May 2025
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And beyond… Generalizations can be either good or bad, useful or useless.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Still, Marles suggested the Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies were counterproductive.—
Tara Copp,
Chicago Tribune,
31 May 2025
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At times of economic, social and planetary upheaval, best practice is counterproductive.—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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