ineffective
Americanadjective
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not effective; not producing results; ineffectual.
ineffective efforts; ineffective remedies.
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inefficient or incompetent; incapable.
an ineffective manager.
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lacking in artistic effect, as a literary work, theatrical production, or painting.
adjective
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having no effect
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incompetent or inefficient
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ineffective
Explanation
Use the adjective ineffective to describe something that doesn't work quite the way it's supposed to. You might complain about your ineffective guard dog, who wags his tail and licks everyone who comes to your house. When you're ineffective, you're unable to accomplish something you're trying to do. You might realize that you're an ineffective babysitter when you can't get the kids to go to bed. Ineffective comes from the Latin prefix in, "not, or opposite of," added to effective, whose Latin root is effectivus, "productive." When something's unproductive, inefficient, or incapable, it's ineffective.
Vocabulary lists containing ineffective
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: in-, im-, il-, ir-
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in-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ineffective regulations have allowed the advertising and selling of billions of dollars in worthless remedies.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 26, 2026
The Cruel and Ineffective Criminalization of Unhoused People in Los Angeles,” consists of dozens of case studies, charts and graphics of arrest and camp cleanup data and extended passages of social commentary.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2024
Ineffective rulers and conflict over successors to the Macedonian dynasty rendered the empire less militarily capable.
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
Ineffective patronage has defined the relationship for decades.
From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2023
Ineffective college teaching will not improve until professional teaching standards are set up by respected institutions.
From College Teaching Studies in Methods of Teaching in the College by Klapper, Paul
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
