1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffectual effort to find the trail again did at least lead them to another stunning view of the canyon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
another ineffectual plan to lose weight without dieting or exercising
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ineffectual
The spruces huddled defensively, as if expecting hard times, and the birch and aspen waved white, ineffectual arms at the snapping November wind.
—
Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Movies like Eddington and The Mastermind also render their white male protagonists as ill-prepared and ineffectual numbskulls incapable of confronting their era’s racial and social politics.
—Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
In addition to addressing an unmet need and providing credit and financial services to people who aren’t served because of ineffectual infrastructure, Loo sees Tala as a business that is taking big leaps.
—Jack McCullough, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Movies like Eddington and The Mastermind also render their white male protagonists as ill-prepared and ineffectual numbskulls incapable of confronting their era’s racial and social politics.
—Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
In addition to addressing an unmet need and providing credit and financial services to people who aren’t served because of ineffectual infrastructure, Loo sees Tala as a business that is taking big leaps.
—Jack McCullough, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
-
The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Efforts to find footage of what happened on social media and through surveillance cameras have been unsuccessful.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Their effort to find a home in Overtown seemed futile until Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, who grew up in Liberty City, conceived a brilliant idea.—
Dorothy Jenkins Fields,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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But the rally felt less threatening than futile.—
Zach Fisch,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Willingly taking back an inefficient contract from a contender, even if that contract has term involved, is just a more extreme application of this basic logic.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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In processes like this, any loss of carbon as carbon dioxide is a key sign that the underlying process is inefficient.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Brown’s statement on Monday was mostly useless corporate-speak.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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This tiny amount of copper acts as a molecular steering wheel, preventing sugar molecules from shattering into useless carbon dioxide.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The suspect then allegedly stepped towards the officers with the weapon, and officers deployed a Taser and a firearm at the same time, but the Taser was ineffective.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Combined with sensational media coverage and advocacy by special interests, such studies have led to ineffective or even harmful national health policies.—
Stephen B. Soumerai,
STAT,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Short-term fixes alone are unlikely to address the root causes of affordability and, if misguided, could even prove counterproductive.—
Gene Ludwig,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Swart warned the street unrest is actively counterproductive.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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