feckless

[ fek-lis ]
See synonyms for: fecklessfecklessness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. ineffective; incompetent; futile: feckless attempts to repair the plumbing.

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

Origin of feckless

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; originally Scots, from feck (late Middle English (Scots ) fek, shortened from effeck,Scots form of effect) + -less

Other words from feckless

  • feck·less·ly, adverb
  • feck·less·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with feckless

Words Nearby feckless

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use feckless in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for feckless

feckless

/ (ˈfɛklɪs) /


adjective
  1. feeble; weak; ineffectual; irresponsible

Origin of feckless

1
C16: from obsolete feck value, effect + -less

Derived forms of feckless

  • fecklessly, adverb
  • fecklessness, 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