ineffectual

American  

[in-i-fek-choo-uhl] / ˌɪn ɪˈfɛk tʃu əl /

adjective

1. not effectual; without satisfactory or decisive effect.

   an ineffectual remedy.

2. unavailing; futile.

   His efforts to sell the house were ineffectual.

   Synonyms:

   abortive, pointless, fruitless, ineffective

3. powerless; impotent.

   Synonyms:

   weak, feeble

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ineffectual British  

/ ˌɪnɪˈfɛktʃʊəl /

adjective

1. having no effect or an inadequate effect

2. lacking in power or forcefulness; impotent

   an ineffectual ruler

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Related Words

See useless.

Other Word Forms

• ineffectuality noun
• ineffectually adverb
• ineffectualness noun

Etymology

Origin of ineffectual

A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; in- ³, effectual

Example Sentences

“Action from policy makers has been nonexistent, timid or ineffectual. In tandem, corporate Canada has become beset by contentment and incumbency.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Europeans have long acknowledged that their slow-growing economies need fixing and that they must boost military spending, though actions to address those shortfalls have been slow or ineffectual.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said the claimants' complaints about the "harmful effects" were "shunned and ignored" before the nurses were "penalised and buried" in an "oppressive and ineffectual investigation process" carried out by the trust.

From BBC

Its efforts to strike at Israel proved generally ineffectual.

From The Wall Street Journal

For most of this century, the U.S. has been an ineffectual force in Latin America.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• futile
• impotent
• inadequate
• ineffective
• inefficient
• insufficient
• unproductive