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.
The 41-year-old, who again confirmed this would be his last World Cup, has divided opinion with his performances at the tournament, with three goals to his name but some ineffectual performances.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
At such moments, Marvin, a notably unemotive and cryptic actor, is less impressive than ineffectual.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026
But its ineffectual japing, and Michaels’ inability to help himself when it comes to normalizing repugnant behavior in the name of chasing the zeitgeist, makes it a popular stop on the image rehab express.
From Salon ● Mar. 6, 2026
It’s also odd that the activist-minded Greengrass didn’t do more with so corporate a villain: legally responsible utility PG&E, represented in the movie by an ineffectual suit who is briefly yelled at.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2025
Even with a superior corporate organization, Microsoft would not be successful with an ineffectual leader.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
