ineffective

adjective

ˌi-nə-ˈfek-tiv How to pronounce ineffective (audio)
Definition of ineffectivenext
1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results an ineffective medication that will be denied FDA approval

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 ineffective That was less about Payne and more about the ineffective passing game. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 But one early research study published in June shows the ban, which took effect in December 2025, has been ineffective. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Injuries and ineffective play have forced the Knights to start six different players over the past 24 games, hurting the team’s consistency. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 But voluntary agreements with the health industry can prove ineffective. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
  1. unsuccessful
  2. futile
  3. inefficient
  4. useless
  5. counterproductive
Adjective
  • The business hired attorneys to appeal the county’s assessment, Cerny said, but were unsuccessful.
    — Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Alonso may have had an unsuccessful spell managing Real Madrid, but went unbeaten to win the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen in his second season of senior management.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Requests for records from Princeton City Schools, Northwest Local Schools and Mason City Schools also largely proved futile.
    — Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In sick bay, M’Benga tries to remove the table and end his life so Chapel can give up on him, an effort that proves futile.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • As a business expands, growth has a way of exposing things like inefficient workflows and inconsistent processes that were once manageable, but on a smaller scale.
    — Farzana Abdulhusein, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Another common argument is that single-payer systems are inherently inefficient, as evidenced ostensibly by long waits for treatment suffered by patients in single-payer countries such as Canada.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of inefficient
Adjective
  • Darth Vader sports useless tape recorder-style buttons on his chest plate.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • David Shnaiderov, who directs the Nuclear Quantum division at Quantum X Labs, pointed out that simulating particle transport is useless without a practical way to represent real physical shapes.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • Getting diverted totally into something which is not true, counterproductive for the family.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • But worse, military action in Mexico would ultimately be counterproductive in the fight against drug cartels.
    — Chris Shays, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of counterproductive

Browse Nearby Words

ineffaceable
ineffective
ineffectively
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Cite this Entry

“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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