ineffectiveness

noun

as in inefficiency

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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 ineffectiveness What readers are saying The comments express strong opposition to capital punishment, particularly highlighting the botched execution of Christa Pike as an example of its cruelty and ineffectiveness. — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026 However, September continued to showcase the club’s ineffectiveness at the plate. — Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026 Unfortunately, his ineffectiveness has begun to drastically affect Miami’s passing attack. — Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026 After injuries and ineffectiveness derailed his season, the Cubs are trying to sell Cabrera on being this year’s version of Roki Sasaki, who suddenly clicked out of the bullpen during the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series run. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 The states argue that Meta withheld relevant information from users and parents, who might have benefited from knowing the ineffectiveness of the feature and others like it, constituting a violation of consumer protection laws. — John Ruwitch, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026 The commission has been plagued by partisan infighting and ineffectiveness, as well as chronic vacancies and a lack of funding. — Jen Fifield, ProPublica, 10 July 2026 Nwodim pointed out that O’Connell has firsthand experience of their ineffectiveness. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 See and assess your teams’ repetitive tasks, ineffectiveness and common delays. — Shawn Chang, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectiveness
  1. inefficiency
  2. inefficacy
  3. ineffectuality
  4. inability
  5. incompetence
Noun
  • Beyond that, this week’s Bears mailbag saw plenty of questions about offensive inefficiencies and struggles at cornerback, as well as the trade market and more.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • No one wants individuals to lose their jobs, but this suggests there were major inefficiencies within the federal bureaucracy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of inefficiency
Noun
  • Columnist Tom Philp argued that her situation demonstrated the inefficacy of California’s mental health and CARE Court system, which cannot force participants into treatment.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The impunity of the powerful was measured by the inefficacy of the outraged.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of inefficacy
Noun
  • In fact, Mike’s frustration at his own ineffectuality seems to be what’s at least partly destroying his public image.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Caroline’s anguish and her ineffectuality at making progress in finding Gabriel make for some frustrating moments as a reader.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Definition of ineffectuality
Noun
  • The Bengals beat the Dolphins 31-24 in large part due to the offense’s inability to get the passing attack going.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Stroud picked apart the Titans, and only the Texans' inability to convert twice inside the Tennessee 20 in the first half kept the final score from being worse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of inability
Noun
  • Treat mistakes as information rather than evidence of incompetence, and people might become more willing to try new things.
    — Vinesh Sukumaran, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Connecticut State Colleges and Universities has been revealed as a nest of incompetence in its powerful central office.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of incompetence

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ineffectively
ineffectiveness
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Cite this Entry

“Ineffectiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectiveness. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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