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Synonyms

ineffective

American  
[in-i-fek-tiv] / ˌɪn ɪˈfɛk tɪv /

adjective

  1. not effective; not producing results; ineffectual.

    ineffective efforts; ineffective remedies.

  2. inefficient or incompetent; incapable.

    an ineffective manager.

  3. lacking in artistic effect, as a literary work, theatrical production, or painting.

ineffective British  
/ ˌɪnɪˈfɛktɪv /

adjective

  1. having no effect

  2. incompetent or inefficient

"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

Other Word Forms

  • ineffectively adverb
  • ineffectiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of ineffective

First recorded in 1645–55; in- 3 + effective

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.