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 country is mired in a prolonged crisis brought on by years of hyperinflation, political corruption, economic mismanagement and an ineffectual government.
—
Dan Gooding
amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The ineffectual nature of California’s energy policies are why advocates of California going green fall back on specious arguments, like the idea that California must continue inflicting higher energy costs on its residents to inspire other states and even the world to follow suit.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025
The messy online battle between Trump and Musk gave Democrats some relief from months of ineffectual attempts to impede the president’s agenda, recriminations over the 2024 election, divisions about their future, and a lack of clear leadership, resulting in historic unpopularity.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 6 June 2025
From the April 2024 issue: A bloody retelling of Huckleberry Finn
During the Civil War, Twain saw brief, ineffectual combat in a Confederate militia.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Dan Gooding
amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The ineffectual nature of California’s energy policies are why advocates of California going green fall back on specious arguments, like the idea that California must continue inflicting higher energy costs on its residents to inspire other states and even the world to follow suit.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025
The messy online battle between Trump and Musk gave Democrats some relief from months of ineffectual attempts to impede the president’s agenda, recriminations over the 2024 election, divisions about their future, and a lack of clear leadership, resulting in historic unpopularity.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 6 June 2025
From the April 2024 issue: A bloody retelling of Huckleberry Finn
During the Civil War, Twain saw brief, ineffectual combat in a Confederate militia.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
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While Hadden-Paton was unsuccessful in keeping his dapper suit, his costar, Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, confessed to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live!—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out for comment but was unsuccessful.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In other words, resistance is futile.—
Mia Sosa,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
-
If anything, Shock and Awe mostly reminds you how futile living in the madness of a Fake News world can be.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Automating a Broken Process A common pitfall for tax teams is dropping AI into processes that are already complex or inefficient.—
Aleksandra Bal,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Lal said past leaders may have been onto something, but the all-at once change strategy was inefficient.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Digital fingerprinting collates an array of data from your phone — your IP address, device model and OS, time zone, setup and anything else if can get — to create a unique identifier in aggregate, even if each individual data snippet us useless on its own.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Never mind that large language models have so far proven useless at 95% of the companies that have made their workforces try to use them, researchers from MIT recently found.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The American Psychological Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and other medical associations have issued statements calling the practice harmful and ineffective at altering someone’s identity.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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Companies are forced to place massive bets on drug targets that ultimately prove ineffective or unsafe.—
Miguel Llorca,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Today’s resolution is yet another counterproductive gesture that only rewards Hamas, drags out the war and undercuts the very diplomatic efforts to free the hostages and end the suffering in Gaza.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Just cutting the reeds is counterproductive.—
Steven Franck,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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