ineffective

adjective

in·​ef·​fec·​tive ˌi-nə-ˈfek-tiv 

1

: not producing an intended effect : ineffectual

ineffective lighting

an ineffective treatment

2

: not capable of performing efficiently or as expected : incapable

an ineffective executive

ineffectively adverb

ineffectiveness noun

Synonyms of ineffective

• unsuccessful
• inefficient
• counterproductive

Examples of ineffective in a Sentence

The treatment was ineffective against the disease.

an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes an entire treatment dose winds up being ineffective. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025

And after an ineffective first two periods, Nylander controlled play in the third period and was rewarded with two assists. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025

Doing so, the judge said, could imply the entire Bureau of Prisons provides ineffective dialysis care. —Kaley Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Dec. 2025

Opposition to Republican plan Democratic leaders dismissed the Republican proposals as misguided and ineffective. —David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ineffective

• intellective
• introspective
• irrespective
• nondirective
• nonselective
• retrospective
• unreflective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective

Kids Definition

ineffective

adjective

in·​ef·​fec·​tive ˌin-ə-ˈfek-tiv 

1

: not producing the desired effect

an ineffective law

2

: not performing as well as expected or needed

an ineffective leader

ineffectively adverb

ineffectiveness noun