effective

[ ih-fek-tiv ]

/ ɪˈfɛk tɪv /

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adjective

adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.

actually in operation or in force; functioning: The law becomes effective at midnight.

producing a deep or vivid impression; striking: an effective photograph.

prepared and available for service, especially military service.

noun

a member of the armed forces fit for duty or active service.

the effective total of a military force.

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Lincolnesque

without interest or significance; dull; insipid.

like or characteristic of Abraham Lincoln.

very high or tall; lofty.

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Words nearby effective

eff., effable, efface, effect, effecter, effective, effective conjugate, effective current, effective dose, effective half-life, effective osmotic pressure

Origin of effective

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effectīvus practical, equivalent to effect(us), past participle of efficere (see effect) + -īvus -ive

SYNONYMS FOR effective

1 capable, competent. Effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient refer to that which is able to produce a (desired) effect. Effective is applied to that which has the power to, or which actually does, produce an effect: an effective action, remedy, speech. Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy. Efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine. Efficient (applied also to persons) implies the skillful use of energy or industry to accomplish desired results with little waste of effort: efficient methods; an efficient manager.

2 operative.

3 telling.

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ANTONYMS FOR effective

1 futile, useless.

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OTHER WORDS FROM effective

ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbef·fec·tive·ness, ef·fec·tiv·i·ty, nounpre·ef·fec·tive, adjectivepre·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb

qua·si-ef·fec·tive, adjectivequa·si-ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbsub·ef·fec·tive, adjectivesub·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbsub·ef·fec·tive·ness, nounsu·per·ef·fec·tive, adjectivesu·per·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbsu·per·ef·fec·tive·ness, nounun·ef·fec·tive, adjectiveun·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbun·ef·fec·tive·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effective

affective effective (see synonym study at the current entry)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for effective

He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness|James Poulos|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If the embargo were effective, the Castro brothers would have been doing Love Letters with the Duvaliers years ago.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Build evidence about the practices, policies, and programs that will achieve the most effective and efficient results.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While there are a couple of antibiotics that usually work, if they are overused they, too, may cease to be effective.
Without Education, Antibiotic Resistance Will Be Our Greatest Health Crisis|Russell Saunders|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In order to know what innovations work, you have to have good information on how effective your practices are.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck|Michael S. Roth|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were just returning to the shelter of the doorway when two shots rang out, but neither was effective.
The Campaign of the Jungle|Edward Stratemeyer
Rapid-fire guns of this class represent the most effective form of modern ordnance.
The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.|Edward W. Byrn
They were all effective, and though Boxer Hall tried to stem the rush, it was impossible.
A Quarter-Back's Pluck|Lester Chadwick
The vocal and instrumental combinations are undoubtedly happy and effective.
Verdi: Man and Musician|Frederick James Crowest
Her hands and arms were enfolded in the blanket, and she was unable to make anything like effective resistance.
Frank Merriwell's Pursuit|Burt L. Standish

British Dictionary definitions for effective

effective

/ (ɪˈfɛktɪv) /

adjective

productive of or capable of producing a result

in effect; operativeeffective from midnight

producing a striking impression; impressivean effective entrance

(prenominal) actual rather than theoretical; realthe effective income after deductions

(of a military force, etc) equipped and prepared for action

physics (of an alternating quantity) having a value that is the square root of the mean of the squares of the magnitude measured at each instant over a defined period of time, usually one cycleSee also root mean square

noun

a serviceman who is equipped and prepared for action

Derived forms of effective

effectively, adverbeffectiveness, noun

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

effective

adjective

noun

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Words related to effective

Words nearby effective

Origin of effective

SYNONYMS FOR effective

ANTONYMS FOR effective

OTHER WORDS FROM effective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effective

Example sentences from the Web for effective

British Dictionary definitions for effective

adjective

noun

Derived forms of effective