View synonyms for abortive

abortive

[ uh-bawr-tiv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

failing to succeed; unsuccessful:
an abortive rebellion; an abortive scheme.
Synonyms: vain, unavailing, bootless, ineffectual, fruitless
Antonyms: successful
born prematurely.
imperfectly developed; rudimentary.
Medicine/Medical.
1. producing or intended to produce abortion; abortifacient.
2. acting to halt progress of a disease.
Pathology. (of the course of a disease) short and mild without the usual, pronounced clinical symptoms.
Botany. (of seeds or pollen grains) imperfect; unable to germinate.

abortive

/ əˈbɔːtɪv /

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First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word abortīvus. See abort, -ive

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Migraine drugs fall into two categories: preventive and abortive.

One time was an abortive interview about the U.S. wars in Indochina which ended with him stomping off.

The plot against the dictatorship (based on the many abortive coups against Papa Doc).

Ross later defined this as "the only new idea" that Arafat had presented at the abortive peace talks.

He recalled previous failed Special Forces operations, including Desert One, the abortive hostage rescue attempt in Iran in 1980.

As time advanced, these further methods of precaution in their turn proved abortive.

His first plan had failed through the remissness of others; his second effort to move had been made abortive by the storm.

The latter, having the trade of the Arkansaw, thereby nearly rendered abortive the exclusive privilege of his rival.

Having made some assaults which proved abortive owing to the strength of the place,The stratagem by which Philip took Prinassus.

In Europe, the startling upheavals of the previous year were followed by an Abortive Spanish rising aftermath no less startling.

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