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
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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
Some have even compared this summer to the inactive, ineffectual years under previous owner Mike Ashley, such has been the volume of silence at times.
—
Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 21 July 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
Three recent letters to the editor in The Baltimore Sun have highlighted the ineffectual performance standards of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the state’s education reform plan that mandates increased spending on K-12 public education.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2025
So, for some businesses, the notion of a computer receptionist seems a welcome solution to the problem of ineffectual call centers.
—Darius Tahir, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 21 July 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
Three recent letters to the editor in The Baltimore Sun have highlighted the ineffectual performance standards of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the state’s education reform plan that mandates increased spending on K-12 public education.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2025
So, for some businesses, the notion of a computer receptionist seems a welcome solution to the problem of ineffectual call centers.
—Darius Tahir, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
-
The new complaint was filed 20 years after Burrowes first claimed in an unsuccessful civil case that Combs may have put out a hit on Shakur and Knight.—
Gina Barton,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
-
All have been unsuccessful due to his status as a suspect in multiple violent crimes.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And, perhaps most dangerous still, these dreams of modernity shine an unwanted light on the futile hardship of the family’s status quo.—
Adam Solomons,
IndieWire,
4 Sep. 2025
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This alternating strategy is futile.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Technology has removed many of the barriers that used to make solopreneurship inefficient.—
Matteo Pittaluga,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Chad Wackerman, a drummer and teacher, believes this change in technique —favoring the biceps over the wrist to create a louder sound — is to blame for an inefficient playing style.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Despite the league's efforts to promote unity, NFL legend Brett Favre feels the messages are counterproductive.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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That’s really so counterproductive.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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