ineffectual

[in-i-fek-choo-uhl]

adjective

1. not effectual; without satisfactory or decisive effect.

   an ineffectual remedy.

2. unavailing; futile.

   His efforts to sell the house were ineffectual.

   Synonyms: abortive, pointless, fruitless, ineffective

3. powerless; impotent.

   Synonyms: weak, feeble

ineffectual

/ ˌɪnɪˈfɛktʃʊəl /

adjective

1. having no effect or an inadequate effect

2. lacking in power or forcefulness; impotent

   an ineffectual ruler

Other Word Forms

• ineffectuality noun
• ineffectualness noun
• ineffectually adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ineffectual¹

A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; in- ³, effectual

Synonym Study

See useless.

Example Sentences

He said the claimants' complaints about the "harmful effects" were "shunned and ignored" before the nurses were "penalised and buried" in an "oppressive and ineffectual investigation process" carried out by the trust.

Read more on BBC

America’s support proved less than steadfast, Europe’s ineffectual.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There’s no one culprit but instead a collection of factors that have provided the ineffectual Congress of today.

Read more on Salon

Its efforts to strike at Israel proved generally ineffectual.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The war has proved the military’s equipment—planes, ships, tanks, trucks and weapons—to be as ineffectual as its leadership.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• futile 
• impotent 
• inadequate 
• ineffective 
• inefficient 
• insufficient 
• unproductive