abortive

Migraine drugs fall into two categories: preventive and abortive.
How to Destroy Your Headaches|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One time was an abortive interview about the U.S. wars in Indochina which ended with him stomping off.
Bloody Bloody Richard Nixon’s Role in a Forgotten Genocide|Nick Turse|September 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The plot against the dictatorship (based on the many abortive coups against Papa Doc).
Amy Wilentz’s Haiti Book Bag|Amy Wilentz|January 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Ross later defined this as "the only new idea" that Arafat had presented at the abortive peace talks.
Temple Denial|Benny Morris|April 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST

He recalled previous failed Special Forces operations, including Desert One, the abortive hostage rescue attempt in Iran in 1980.
The Defense Secretary's Exit Interview|John Barry|June 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
As time advanced, these further methods of precaution in their turn proved abortive.
A Cursory History of Swearing|Julian Sharman
His first plan had failed through the remissness of others; his second effort to move had been made abortive by the storm.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.
The latter, having the trade of the Arkansaw, thereby nearly rendered abortive the exclusive privilege of his rival.
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3)|Elliott Coues
Having made some assaults which proved abortive owing to the strength of the place,The stratagem by which Philip took Prinassus.
The Histories of Polybius, Vol. II (of 2)|Polybius
In Europe, the startling upheavals of the previous year were followed by an Abortive Spanish rising aftermath no less startling.
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year|Edwin Emerson

British Dictionary definitions for abortive

abortive

/ (əˈbɔːtɪv) /

adjective

failing to achieve a purpose; fruitless

(of organisms) imperfectly developed; rudimentary

causing abortion; abortifacient

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for abortive

abortive

[ ə-bôr′tĭv ]

adj.

Not reaching completion, as of a disease subsiding before it has finished its course.

Partially or imperfectly developed; rudimentary.

Abortifacient.

Other words from abortive

a•bor′tive•ly adv.

abortive

OTHER WORDS FOR abortive

OPPOSITES FOR abortive

Origin of abortive

OTHER WORDS FROM abortive

Words nearby abortive

Words related to abortive

How to use abortive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abortive

Medical definitions for abortive

Other words from abortive