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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ineffective
One commenter shared skepticism that reducing speed limits would be ineffective without stronger police presence to enforce the rules.
—
Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2026
Decade after decade, the modern Congress has allowed its authority to be eroded, with only tiny and largely ineffective peeps of protest.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Some sham surgery studies have proven that treatments are ineffective.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Counterfeit medication may be ineffective or dangerous.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2026
Decade after decade, the modern Congress has allowed its authority to be eroded, with only tiny and largely ineffective peeps of protest.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Some sham surgery studies have proven that treatments are ineffective.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Counterfeit medication may be ineffective or dangerous.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
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First aid and attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
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Attempts to contact Hill on Thursday were unsuccessful.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Saturday’s game featured a feverish but futile effort marked by a rally from 15 down in the first half, 12 ties and 12 lead changes.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Mar. 2026
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Auditor Diana DiZoglio should abandon her futile court case to open the Legislature’s books and instead work on defeating her troika of opponents the old fashioned way – at the ballot box.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But analysts say the grid remains inefficient, aging and, with demand spiking, on the verge of causing widespread blackouts on the coldest or hottest days.—
Marc Levy,
Fortune,
8 Mar. 2026
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They were led by Jordan Pope’s 30 points on an inefficient 8-of-25 shooting but was 7 of 18 from behind the arc.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Generative AI in medicine is neither universally embraced as perfect nor completely dismissed as useless.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Computer nerds who’ve never left their basements and mama’s cooking are trying, and have taken over the sport with useless numbers, or analytics.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Noem’s insistence on filming arrest operations was both disgraceful and counterproductive.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
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In July of last year Steyer sent out a tweet criticizing rent control for its deleterious and counterproductive effects.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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