1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
That worked, and Minnesota’s base defense – an elite weapon for much of the year – has been rendered ineffective through two games of this series.
—
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
The active ingredients in sunscreen break down and become ineffective when exposed to heat and light, and moisture can cause mold or yeast to grow.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
This encompasses weak network security, ineffective firewalls, insufficient intrusion detection and prevention systems and inadequate access controls.
—Dewayne Hart, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
The active ingredients in sunscreen break down and become ineffective when exposed to heat and light, and moisture can cause mold or yeast to grow.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
This encompasses weak network security, ineffective firewalls, insufficient intrusion detection and prevention systems and inadequate access controls.
—Dewayne Hart, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffective
Adjective
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Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
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One game after the Oilers were unsuccessful in challenging that Bennett interfered with Stuart Skinner during the game’s first goal, Bennett toppled over Skinner after getting contact from Ekholm later in the period.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 June 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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Flood irrigation is still used in some places, and continues to be proven inefficient when compared with modern techniques.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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The character who can go through walls is useless, because beyond the walls is nothing but dirt.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
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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Still, Marles suggested the Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies were counterproductive.—
Tara Copp,
Chicago Tribune,
31 May 2025
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At times of economic, social and planetary upheaval, best practice is counterproductive.—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffective. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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