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
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2
as in futile
producing no results
another ineffectual plan to lose weight without dieting or exercising
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Recent Examples of ineffectual
The Dance was born out of a succession crisis that occurred in the reign of the well-meaning but ineffectual King Viserys I (Paddy Considine), which HOTD’s first season had to devote much screen time to explaining.
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Basma Bedawi, Vulture, 14 June 2024
The evidence reveals that the Biden–Harris approach has been spectacularly successful, while the Trump approach has been largely ineffectual.
—Steven Tian, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
On a dime, Carmine — who’d just started to see Sofia as his true heir apparent, rather than his ineffectual son, Alberto (Michael Zegen) — turns on his daughter.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 14 Oct. 2024
Don’t waste the power of a good rage on ineffectual outbursts at other people who just happen to be nearby.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ineffectual 
Basma Bedawi, Vulture, 14 June 2024
The evidence reveals that the Biden–Harris approach has been spectacularly successful, while the Trump approach has been largely ineffectual.
—Steven Tian, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
On a dime, Carmine — who’d just started to see Sofia as his true heir apparent, rather than his ineffectual son, Alberto (Michael Zegen) — turns on his daughter.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 14 Oct. 2024
Don’t waste the power of a good rage on ineffectual outbursts at other people who just happen to be nearby.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
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Stabilize leadership and prepare to scale down, S&P warns After CTU and CPS asking for more state funds earlier this year proved unsuccessful, new revenue from Springfield is unlikely, the S&P noted.Sarah Macaraeg, Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024
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However, the equipment has been unsuccessful in detecting the drones.Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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With dwindling options, Iran also withdrew its allied militias, recognizing that fighting for Assad would be futile.Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024
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This prospect seems likely because the ACLU is poised to pursue the case if the government drops out, making withdrawal by the new Trump administration potentially futile.Catherine Cole, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Create a Department of Government Efficiency Fund Regulatory bloat is not only costly for businesses but also for taxpayers who foot the bill for wasteful and inefficient agencies.James Broughel, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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These reactions show generalized anger over the lack of control people have over their economic lives, exemplified specifically on how health care is provided and paid for in our nation and how that unjust and inefficient system has been allowed, if not openly fostered, by government policy.Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This is a fashion collab designed for women’s bodies to be looked at, but the functionality is useless.Jamie Aranoff, Outside Online, 12 Dec. 2024
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It was built on NBA men who subsidized that useless league for decades.Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Failure, however, might render the Digital Euro an ineffective compromise—too timid to drive meaningful reform and too weak to compete on the global stage.Jon Helgi Egilsson, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Besides the potential irritation that can come along with using too many actives (or trying one too many TikTok trends) at once, layering on the wrong combo of products can inactivate skin-care ingredients, therefore rendering the product ineffective.Victoria Moorhouse, Allure, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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President Biden has faced scrutiny for his decision as several Democrats on Capitol Hill have condemned the move as counterproductive to their party’s efforts toward rebuilding public trust in American institutions derided by President-elect Trump.Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
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If the physical qubits are too failure-prone, error correction is counterproductive — adding more physical qubits will make the logical qubits worse, not better.Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ineffectual
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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