ineffectual
Americanadjective
-
having no effect or an inadequate effect
-
lacking in power or forcefulness; impotent
an ineffectual ruler
Synonym Usage
See useless.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ineffectual
A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at in- 3, effectual
Explanation
If you are a coach with a losing team that doesn't listen to you, don't be surprised if you are called ineffectual. It means too weak to produce the desired effect. Ineffectual is similar to ineffective, but while ineffective implies that something simply doesn't work, ineffectual carries with it the idea of weakness too. An old computer might be ineffective for creating state-of-the-art digital presentations; a boss who looks the other way while her employees slack off all day, on the other hand, is ineffectual.
Vocabulary lists containing ineffectual
The Old Man and the Sea
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"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
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The Haunting of Hill House
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Because in addition to being ineffectual and incoherent, he was also uncharismatic with it.
From Slate • Jun. 23, 2026
Salah had made a slow start to the tournament, with an ineffectual display in their opening draw with Belgium followed up by a quiet opening half against the Kiwis.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
The cops of wherever this is are ineffectual.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
“Sinners” centers the Black American experience through history, art and spirituality, while “One Battle” speaks to the white liberal male’s ineffectual navigation of weaponized racial grievance.
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026
General Halleck had shuffled the generals at Pittsburg Landing after the battle there, assigning Grant to an ineffectual position as assistant commander and taking command of the field himself.
From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt
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.
