feckless

American  

[fek-lis] / ˈfɛk lɪs /

adjective

1. ineffective; incompetent; futile.

   feckless attempts to repair the plumbing.

2. having no sense of responsibility; indifferent; lazy.

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feckless British  

/ ˈfɛklɪs /

adjective

1. feeble; weak; ineffectual; irresponsible

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Usage

What does feckless mean? Feckless describes an irresolute, weak, or ineffective action or person.Content warning: This article contains reference to some strong language.

Other Word Forms

• fecklessly adverb
• fecklessness noun

Etymology

Origin of feckless

First recorded in 1590–1600; originally Scots, from feck ( late Middle English ( Scots ) fek, shortened from effeck, Scots form of effect ) + -less

Example Sentences

In some regards this narrator, a husband and father, is Mr. Lerner’s most mature alter ego, but he often seems like the same schlemiel as the feckless grad student in “Leaving the Atocha Station.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But Norwich doesn’t ignore the republic’s bumblers and stumblers and the “sad, feckless men” who presided over its downfall in 1797.

From The Wall Street Journal

Your husband won’t join you in therapy if you put pressure on him or threaten him with divorce or tell him that he is feckless if he does not come along.

From MarketWatch

Hermès and Chanel had not yet set up shop, and artists of all sorts took advantage of the neighborhood’s cheap rent and feckless enforcement of the building code.

From New York Times

Roughly 24 hours earlier, they looked feckless and overmatched in one of their worst performances of the season, being held to a single run on three hits while striking out 14 times.

From Seattle Times