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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 Soaring output in China has pushed Europe and the US to throw up trade barriers, though those could prove ineffective. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 However, many medical experts and public health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reject these policies as unnecessary and ineffective. — Emily J. C. Wong, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 The complaint argues, though, that OpenAI’s attempts to age-gate its platform have been ineffective. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026 What works for one organization may be completely ineffective for another. — Dean Leavitt, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
  1. unsuccessful
  2. futile
  3. inefficient
  4. useless
  5. counterproductive
Adjective
  • As the unsuccessful regime-change effort in Iran demonstrated, there are no shortcuts to besting the axis countries, together or individually.
    — Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Von Dohlen, a financial adviser and conservative activist who has run three unsuccessful campaigns for City Council, was unopposed in the Republican primary.
    — Katie Bartlett, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Adelaide’s music had become an argument, however futile, with finality.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Before the court fight was launched, Edwin Benn, the arbitrator who oversaw 2023 contract negotiations between the city and FOP, warned the City Council that any attempt to undermine his award to the union would be futile.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • By any objective standard, that technology was outdated, labor-intensive, imprecise, and inefficient.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In February, the IMF separately warned that Beijing’s state subsidies were producing inefficient firms, with total subsidies amounting to some 4% of GDP.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of inefficient
Adjective
  • Giving batteries second life EV batteries can lose the capacity needed for driving without becoming useless.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Shohei Ohtani, the best player in the history of baseball, was useless.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • The lesson is not to abandon the region but to rethink an approach that has become both too costly and counterproductive.
    — Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Industry analysts note that abandoning the export ban reflects recognition that such restrictions could prove counterproductive.
    — , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of counterproductive

Browse Nearby Words

ineffaceable
ineffective
ineffectively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All