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
Caremark offers a medical exceptions process for patients to gain access to off-formulary medications if the preferred alternative is ineffective.
—
Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Meanwhile, Blalock has been ineffective in five games (three starts) for Colorado this year, posting a 12.94 ERA.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
But Maryland lawmakers repeatedly refused to budge on this costly, ineffective and racially divisive approach, ignoring legislative proposals to do so year after year.
—Vincent Schiraldi, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
Now county leaders are making a hard push for solutions, mindful that incarceration is often an ineffective response to broader economic and societal challenges.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Meanwhile, Blalock has been ineffective in five games (three starts) for Colorado this year, posting a 12.94 ERA.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
But Maryland lawmakers repeatedly refused to budge on this costly, ineffective and racially divisive approach, ignoring legislative proposals to do so year after year.
—Vincent Schiraldi, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
Now county leaders are making a hard push for solutions, mindful that incarceration is often an ineffective response to broader economic and societal challenges.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
-
First responders also attempted to revive Riccardo, but were unsuccessful, the outlet added.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
12 July 2025
-
All attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful, Park Service officials said.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Go with the flow, but not toward the beach: Trying to swim directly toward the beach when caught in a rip current is futile and exhausting.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 July 2025
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This group saw military responses as futile, as Iran was assumed to have escalation dominance.—
JAMES JEFFREY,
Foreign Affairs,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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More than inefficient, manual finance operations introduce unnecessary risk.—
John Rubinetti,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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This is not hyperbole: burning oil to power a car or burning coal to produce electricity is at best slightly more than thirty per cent efficient—or seventy per cent inefficient.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Towns and hamlets have been largely pulverized along the front lines and for miles beyond; even American air defenses are mostly useless, because setting them up invites an immediate Russian attack.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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Apart from evidence, some of the most important testimonies in the case were also deemed useless during the investigation.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Jose Palma, co-coordinator at the National TPS Alliance, said the move was counterproductive.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
7 July 2025
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If the goal is to obtain compliance, masks are counterproductive.—
Christy Lopez Guest,
Mercury News,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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