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 Morocco was particularly ineffective, managing a single draw with Spain against two losses. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026 Oftentimes, league bottom feeders are bottom feeders for a reason … ineffective coaching, talent deficiency, front office mismanagement, etc. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 29 June 2026 But this month’s prolonged stretch of nighttime heat has made the practice ineffective. — Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 Staff said a fence installed to discourage people from gathering at the encampment has been ineffective. — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
  1. unsuccessful
  2. futile
  3. inefficient
  4. useless
  5. counterproductive
Adjective
  • Her 36-year-old NFL star boyfriend was also coming off another season playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended with an unsuccessful campaign for a third consecutive Super Bowl ring.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • However, the efforts were unsuccessful, according to the statement.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 4 July 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Purists don’t care for the interruption in the game’s natural flow, but resistance remains futile as long as FIFA is in charge of ⌘+F’ing its way through the rule book.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026
  • An unusual scene unfolded at the beach in Los Angeles County on Thursday morning when a man who was wanted by police ran into the water and stayed in for over an hour in a futile attempt to escape, authorities said.
    — Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • An older home layout or an inefficient layout can force your air conditioner to run longer than necessary, driving up your cooling costs.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 17 July 2026
  • Notably, the physical rules were integrated directly into their software, replacing older, inefficient methods.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
Definition of inefficient
Adjective
  • When Shirley proves useless, Juliette hops onto some ropes to zip past the staircase gap and meet with Knox, who shares her curiosity about where Lukas went.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Answer-First Content Still Matters Google Zero does not make contractor websites useless.
    — Michael Fox, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • What this framework dismantles is a common and counterproductive myth—that friendships either spark instantly or are not worth pursuing.
    — Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Johnson continued this week to push for his foolish and counterproductive desire to impose a $33-per-month tax on each Chicago job generated by the city’s largest private-sector employers.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 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 19 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ineffective for Spanish Speakers

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