ineffectual

[ in-i-fek-choo-uhl ]

/ ˌɪn ɪˈfɛk tʃu əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ineffectual ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not effectual; without satisfactory or decisive effect: an ineffectual remedy.

unavailing; futile: His efforts to sell the house were ineffectual.

powerless; impotent.

Nearby words

ineducable, ineducation, ineffable, ineffaceable, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, inefficacy, inefficiency, inefficient, inegalitarian

Origin of ineffectual

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

SYNONYMS FOR ineffectual

2 ineffective, fruitless, pointless, abortive. See useless.

3 feeble, weak.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ineffectual ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsin·ef·fec·tu·al·i·ty, in·ef·fec·tu·al·ness, nounin·ef·fec·tu·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ineffectual

The Obama administration has pulled together a coalition as ineffectual as it is unwilling.
There’s Only One Way to Beat ISIS: Work With Assad and Iran|Leslie H. Gelb|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The end result only confirmed its image as disorganized and ineffectual.
Boko Haram Steps Up Its War on Kids|Nina Strochlic|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Why, then, are we led to believe that her conniving ways are so ineffectual and misdirected?
The Abused Wives of Westeros: A Song of Feminism in ‘Game of Thrones’|Amy Zimmerman|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Thrones, power, politics, money, and force constantly trump goodness, in each of its ineffectual forms.
Game of Thrones’ ‘Breaker of Chains’: The Most Cynical Show on TV Bares Its Fangs Once More|Andrew Romano|April 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Hollande basically tried to remain above the fray and reinforced his already doleful image as an ineffectual executive.
Roma Immigrants Have Set France on Edge|Christopher Dickey, Alice Guilhamon|October 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The angel in thee and rejects the sprites That ineffectual crowd about his strength, And mingle with his work and claim a share!
The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846|Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett
Martin V. published a favourable bull, but it was ineffectual.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 4|Various
Whether freighted richly with the essential, or merely burdened with the ineffectual, it is equally irretrievable.
The Life Radiant|Lilian Whiting
Of feeble justice, ineffectual, drop The sword and balance: mute the voice of joy, And hush'd the clamor of the busy world.
Harper's Magazine, Vol III, June 1851|Various
And the Supreme Court set the order aside, declaring it to be “ineffectual for any purpose and void.”
'The System,' as uncovered by the San Francisco Graft Prosecution|Franklin Hichborn

British Dictionary definitions for ineffectual

ineffectual

/ (ˌɪnɪˈfɛktʃʊəl) /

adjective

having no effect or an inadequate effect

lacking in power or forcefulness; impotentan ineffectual ruler

Derived Formsineffectuality or ineffectualness, nounineffectually, adverb

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

ineffectual

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of ineffectual

Examples from the Web for ineffectual

British Dictionary definitions for ineffectual

ineffectual

adjective