ineffective

[ in-i-fek-tiv ]

/ ˌɪn ɪˈfɛk tɪv /

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See synonyms for: ineffective / ineffectively / ineffectiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not effective; not producing results; ineffectual: ineffective efforts; ineffective remedies.

inefficient or incompetent; incapable: an ineffective manager.

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of ineffective

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

OTHER WORDS FROM ineffective

in·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbin·ef·fec·tive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ineffective in a sentence

Junior Tyger Goslin got the start at quarterback but was ineffective and was benched in favor of freshman Xavier Arline late in the third quarter.
Navy is back in action at last but sputters to a 10-7 loss to Memphis|Kareem Copeland|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
Temperature checks and deep cleaning of public surfaces emerged as two largely ineffective measures in a global analysis published November 16 in Nature Human Behavior.
Coronavirus shutdowns don’t need to be all or nothing|Jonathan Lambert|November 25, 2020|Science News
Detractors said that mandatory seat belt laws were ineffective, uncomfortable or against their individual rights.
Two School Districts Had Different Mask Policies. Only One Had a Teacher on a Ventilator.|by Annie Waldman and Heather Vogell|November 23, 2020|ProPublica
A new paper from the National Institute of Standards and Technology helps demonstrate why one group of masks—valved masks—is almost as ineffective in controlling the spread of mouth particles as wearing no masks at all.
Why you should think twice before opting for a valved N95 mask|Kat Eschner|November 12, 2020|Popular-Science

Stories about ineffective charities are remembered by donors, who often give less — and effective charities that do a lot of good tend to make for less memorable stories.
Which charities do the most good? Charity Navigator joins the effort to answer this crucial question.|Kelsey Piper|October 16, 2020|Vox
But inefficiency and ineffectiveness are not its only evils.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Conservatives in this country will undoubtedly pile on the United Nations for its ineffectiveness.
Syrian Crisis Won’t Be Resolved With the Tactics Used in Libya|P.J. Crowley|August 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
(p. 257) Roosevelt was scarcely more tolerant of ineffectiveness than he was of dishonesty.
Roosevelt in the Bad Lands|H. Hagedorn.
But a bad selection of subjects, and a bad method of teaching them, may condemn even the best teacher to ineffectiveness.
Cambridge Essays on Education|Various
That such belief is not the true faith, however, is proved by the fact of its ineffectiveness.
Epistle Sermons, Vol. II|Martin Luther
Instead he sat silently blinking his eyes and wondering at the persistent air of ineffectiveness in the people who passed.
Marching Men|Sherwood Anderson
But, though suspected, the ineffectiveness of that squadron could not be assumed before proved.
Lessons of the war with Spain and other articles|Alfred T. Mahan

British Dictionary definitions for ineffective

ineffective

/ (ˌɪnɪˈfɛktɪv) /

adjective

having no effect

incompetent or inefficient

Derived forms of ineffective

ineffectively, adverbineffectiveness, 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

ineffective

Origin of ineffective

OTHER WORDS FROM ineffective

Words related to ineffective

How to use ineffective in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ineffective

Derived forms of ineffective