1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
an ineffective medication that will be denied FDA approval
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ineffective
The Heat’s smaller lineups were particularly ineffective against the length of Orlando and Toronto.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
These spaces exist alongside, not outside of, America’s hugely ineffective — and highly racialized — War on Drugs.
—Jerel Ezell, STAT, 1 May 2026
Bump replaces Michkov, scores Flyers coach Rick Tocchet made headlines for removing Matvei Michkov from the lineup after four ineffective games for the second-year forward.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
There’s also the risk that microdosing will be ineffective for treating a condition that could otherwise impact your health.
—Cathy Nelson, Health, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
These spaces exist alongside, not outside of, America’s hugely ineffective — and highly racialized — War on Drugs.
—Jerel Ezell, STAT, 1 May 2026
Bump replaces Michkov, scores Flyers coach Rick Tocchet made headlines for removing Matvei Michkov from the lineup after four ineffective games for the second-year forward.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
There’s also the risk that microdosing will be ineffective for treating a condition that could otherwise impact your health.
—Cathy Nelson, Health, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
-
Golden State Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said his unsuccessful bid to buy the San Diego Padres assumed that the entire 2027 MLB season would likely be lost due to labor strife.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
6 May 2026
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The assailant stabbed the pope with a bayonet, but the assassination attempt was unsuccessful.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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But although resistance is similarly futile, their goals are less about assimilation than worshipping the obsessive Grant's wife, Starla (Elizabeth Banks).—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
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His father was a schoolteacher and a member of the Nazi Party; Baselitz, who was seven at the cessation of World War II, would later recall the smoke rising from firebombed Dresden as his mother hurried her children through the city in a futile attempt to escape the Russians.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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America’s economy has been the envy of the world for its talent at replacing old, inefficient business models, scaling up new technologies and turning failures into comebacks.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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What moves the number The result of all these factors is that the price that drivers see at the pump mostly reflects the global price of crude, plus a stack of domestic costs, only some of which are inefficient.—
Robert I. Harris,
The Conversation,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
From certain side sections, the rear screen was nearly useless.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
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Technically impressive, yes—but scientifically and commercially useless.—
Magnus Resch,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This movement, known as critical legal studies, was associated with the political left, and its exponents, known as crits, loved to disparage liberal theorists’ devotion to the Constitution as naïve and counterproductive.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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While many components of Prop 103 have obviously been effective, some have been counterproductive and need reform.—
Steven Bradford,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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