1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffectual effort to find the trail again did at least lead them to another stunning view of the canyon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
another ineffectual plan to lose weight without dieting or exercising
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ineffectual
In Kenya, 77% of people view their government’s efforts in fighting corruption as ineffectual.
—
Richard Aidoo, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
The men in their lives are bumbling, terrible or just ineffectual.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
But two factors are important to keep in mind to help explain why even trying to front-run a White House announcement would be ineffectual.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
For a business, a high-speed connection can mean the difference between productive or ineffectual operations, customer satisfaction or abandonment, and ultimately profit or loss.
—Glenn Katz, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Richard Aidoo, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
The men in their lives are bumbling, terrible or just ineffectual.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
But two factors are important to keep in mind to help explain why even trying to front-run a White House announcement would be ineffectual.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
For a business, a high-speed connection can mean the difference between productive or ineffectual operations, customer satisfaction or abandonment, and ultimately profit or loss.
—Glenn Katz, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
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Officials said he was found semiconscious on the River Trail on June 30 but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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Efforts to refloat the ship during high tide on Thursday were unsuccessful.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Cutting spending wasted on a futile pursuit of a global empire is not just a fiscal necessity.—
Ron Paul,
Oc Register,
20 May 2025
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Desperate Steve Kerr frequently toggled his non-Draymond Green big men as late as the second round of the playoffs in a futile effort to contain the giants of the Minnesota Timberwolves around the rim.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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But banking on state governments to match the resources of the federal government—cash, expertise, largess—is an inefficient use of funds, as states in most cases have to stay in the black and cannot use debt for operations like a from-the-ground-up rebuild.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
29 May 2025
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All year long the Red Sox have been plagued by inconsistent offense, inefficient pitching and inexplicable lapses on defense and on the base paths.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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And beyond… Generalizations can be either good or bad, useful or useless.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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For one, any melasma treatment is practically useless without them.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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At least for now, the biggest differentiator between effective and ineffective use of AI for marketing strategy or content production is the human in the driver’s seat.—
Andrew Allen,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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This can make these agents ineffective, allowing bacteria to grow.151617 Phthalates Phthalates are chemicals added to cosmetic products for various reasons.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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The underlying premise of the Norwegian method is that hero workouts that leave you crumpled by the side of the track are counterproductive.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
19 May 2025
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But regulating for the sake of regulating is counterproductive, and the existing framework already goes way beyond policing fraud and consumer harms.—
Norbert Michel,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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