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
Caremark offers a medical exceptions process for patients to gain access to off-formulary medications if the preferred alternative is ineffective.
—
Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Meanwhile, Blalock has been ineffective in five games (three starts) for Colorado this year, posting a 12.94 ERA.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
But Maryland lawmakers repeatedly refused to budge on this costly, ineffective and racially divisive approach, ignoring legislative proposals to do so year after year.
—Vincent Schiraldi, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
Now county leaders are making a hard push for solutions, mindful that incarceration is often an ineffective response to broader economic and societal challenges.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Meanwhile, Blalock has been ineffective in five games (three starts) for Colorado this year, posting a 12.94 ERA.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
But Maryland lawmakers repeatedly refused to budge on this costly, ineffective and racially divisive approach, ignoring legislative proposals to do so year after year.
—Vincent Schiraldi, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
Now county leaders are making a hard push for solutions, mindful that incarceration is often an ineffective response to broader economic and societal challenges.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
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Life-saving efforts were unsuccessful and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, said Officer Anthony Gamble, a Sacramento Police Department spokesperson.—
The Sacramento Bee,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2025
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Attempts to impeach Pashinyan, who came to power in 2018, were unsuccessful.—
Avet Demourian,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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The regime’s tyrannical efforts to control and extinguish their savings were futile against their newfound freedom money.—
Mauricio Di Bartolomeo,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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The researchers said their findings should not suggest afforestation and carbon offsetting are futile.—
Hayley Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Parking has changed greatly over the years in Boise, in part because city planners have tried to get rid of inefficient surface parking lots.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2025
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This includes putting more tax inefficient investments into tax advantaged accounts, like 401(k), 403(b), 529 college savings accounts, and HSAs, to name just a few. 6.—
Jonathan I. Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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The price signals are useless because the government prohibited them from being useful.—
The Editors,
National Review,
30 June 2025
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The devices must also give consumers the option of deactivating such features, unless that action would render the device useless.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Jose Palma, co-coordinator at the National TPS Alliance, said the move was counterproductive.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
7 July 2025
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If the goal is to obtain compliance, masks are counterproductive.—
Christy Lopez Guest,
Mercury News,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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