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effective communication
meaningful communication
persuasive communication
good communication
successful communication
essential communication
an effective tool
an useful tool
an efficient tool
a potent tool
a powerful tool
a viable tool
an effective dose
a sufficient dose
an adequate dose
a potent dose
a healthy dose
effective management
productive management
successful management
proper management
high-impact management
efficient management

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective effective contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of effective are effectual, efficacious, and efficient. While all these words mean "producing or capable of producing a result," effective stresses the actual production of or the power to produce an effect.

an effective rebuttal

When can effectual be used instead of effective?

The words effectual and effective can be used in similar contexts, but effectual suggests the accomplishment of a desired result especially as viewed after the fact.

the measures to stop the pilfering proved effectual

When could efficacious be used to replace effective?

The words efficacious and effective are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, efficacious suggests possession of a special quality or virtue that gives effective power.

a detergent that is efficacious in removing grease

Where would efficient be a reasonable alternative to effective?

While in some cases nearly identical to effective, efficient suggests an acting or a potential for action or use in such a way as to avoid loss or waste of energy in effecting, producing, or functioning.

an efficient small car

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of effective The result is something that feels like a complete departure from the original: a touching ‘80s throwback and an effective coming-of-age drama about Pete (Oakes Fegley), a lonely boy who inhabits the forest with his dragon named Elliot. Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025 Some lieutenant governors deserved their pay as agency heads or as effective advisers to governors, notably under Govs. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025 Then Sterling did some less effective things and got suspended anyway, so that mad idea was, at least, parked for the time being. Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025 Specialized water effects by Water Sculptures are also beautifully effective, allowing audiences a window into Blanche’s increasingly fractured mind. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for effective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effective
Adjective
  • Experiments are under way with algae (since algae breathes carbon dioxide and provides oxygen in return), and smaller, more efficient plant designs.
    David Pogue, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Luckily, a door seems to be opening to empower you to find a cleaner, more efficient work-life balance.
    Kyle Thomas, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • While Danish remains optimistic about potential Broadway interest, his current focus is on delivering a compelling and authentic portrayal at New World Stages.
    Court Stroud, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The three actors deliver sharply subtle performances, from Laurie’s passive aggression to Jaclyn’s actual aggression and Kate’s dismay as the de facto mediator.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2025
  • And Paul, Weiss then settled that with the administration for basically no actual concessions, except a great press release for President Trump.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Nathan enjoys analyzing and exploring his musical pieces and embraces every nuance to deliver stellar and convincing performances.
    Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
  • His attachment to Lochy is entirely contingent upon the younger brother hanging on his every word and twisted idea — or at least putting on a convincing show of it.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That was my first real relationship to the island and that culture.
    Nicholas Ducassi, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
  • That happens through supportive feedback, real listening, and invitations to contribute before problems escalate.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet as Gee points out, to date, there are still only suppositions, rather than conclusive evidence about why hominins made the transition to a bipedal lifestyle.
    Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The agency is quickly becoming a target of Elon Musk, who has claimed without conclusive evidence that there's rampant fraud from improper payments to dead people.
    Emily Peck, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Hallucinations, on the other hand, occur when an AI system is asked to provide factual information or perform specific tasks but instead generates incorrect or misleading content while presenting it as accurate.
    Anna Choi, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Next week, the NTSB intends to release the hazardous materials, meteorological and survival factors factual reports and a study conducted by its office of engineering on vessel size increases and associated safety risk.
    Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Effective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effective. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on effective

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