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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 In 2022, the DA's office made a court filing stating that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel. — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 What worked a few years ago may be ineffective today or might even negatively impact your brand. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 The Fed almost never hikes or cuts just once but rather moves in cycles, as policymakers view incremental one-off moves as ineffective. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026 Quarterback Daniel Jones was ineffective in his first game back from a torn Achilles, and the defense was poor. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
  1. unsuccessful
  2. futile
  3. inefficient
  4. useless
  5. counterproductive
Adjective
  • Kasdin said, up to now, efforts to negotiate with the residents on Fifth Street have been unsuccessful.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Coulter, Hatten, Jones and McMichales all brought unsuccessful challenges against Wilson during last April’s municipal election.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Before the court fight was launched, Edwin Benn, the arbitrator who oversaw 2023 contract negotiations between the city and FOP, warned the City Council that any attempt to undermine his award to the union would be futile.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • It’s also brilliantly written as a futile, pathetic rebellion by men with zero agency or purpose in their own lives.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • Address Employee Resistance And Loss Of Critical Thinking Staff might see AI as a threat to their jobs, which can lead to inefficient use of AI tools.
    — Eleonora Liapina, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Every year, by design, the law forces thousands of inefficient old vehicles off the road as the cost of compliance rises and parts become harder to find.
    — Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of inefficient
Adjective
  • The key was in combining two advanced nanomaterials that were previously useless on their own.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • What Generalist Vendors Actually Solve For Horizontal AI vendors aren’t useless.
    — Kyle Nakatsuji, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • Future work could seek to understand other results, like finding out exactly when this type of interference from above becomes counterproductive, or what the long-term effects of managers taking more of a hands-on role with sales might be.
    — Daniel E. Chavez, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Those who do play with a single-hander, like Tsitsipas, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti or Austria’s Lilli Tagger inspire a kind of fascination as to why anyone would go down a path that has become so unusual and supposedly counterproductive.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of counterproductive

Browse Nearby Words

ineffaceable
ineffective
ineffectively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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