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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
another ineffectual plan to lose weight without dieting or exercising
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ineffectual
But none of this means that the court, or the quest for international justice more broadly, is ineffectual.
—
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024
The data indicates that Trump’s idiosyncratic efforts to target individual companies for presidential bullying were ineffectual.
—Steven Tian, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
Dyer dismissed concerns that the arrests are ineffectual, saying the camping ban is just one part of the city's broader strategy to address homelessness, which includes investing in shelter and affordable housing.
—Vanessa Rancaño, NPR, 28 Dec. 2024
Perón died a year later and was succeeded by his third wife, the ineffectual Isabel Perón.
—Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024
The data indicates that Trump’s idiosyncratic efforts to target individual companies for presidential bullying were ineffectual.
—Steven Tian, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
Dyer dismissed concerns that the arrests are ineffectual, saying the camping ban is just one part of the city's broader strategy to address homelessness, which includes investing in shelter and affordable housing.
—Vanessa Rancaño, NPR, 28 Dec. 2024
Perón died a year later and was succeeded by his third wife, the ineffectual Isabel Perón.
—Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
-
Stephanie played her shot in the dark (a 1 in 6 chance at safety in exchange for a vote), but was unsuccessful and the 38-year-old tech product lead living in Brooklyn was the first person to be voted out of Season 48.—
Emily DeLetter,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
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The two had been hired to kill Pino’s estranged wife, according to the FBI, though their attempts up to that point had been unsuccessful.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For Alok Bansal, a newspaper columnist, the exercise is futile – and threatens to deepen divisions.—
Sushmita Pathak,
The Christian Science Monitor,
3 Mar. 2025
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Challenging the law again was futile until 2023 when progressives retook a 4–3 majority on the court.—
The Editors,
National Review,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As teams scale, decision-making can become inefficient and accountability can blur.—
Patrick Donegan,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Two critical areas where Kansas struggles are 1) free-throw rate (its 23.9 FTR ranks No. 357 in the nation) and 2) low-volume and inefficient 3-point shooting.—
Tyler Everett,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Those assets are useless on a device like the Deck, and take up unnecessary space.—
Jason Evangelho,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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In stereotypical rich-TV-family fashion, the ultimate symbol of Baba’s success is that both of his sons are sort of useless.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Some were ineffective, such as unconscious bias training.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
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The higher the number (3 being the maximum and X being ineffective), the more effective that status ailment will be.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, several examples indicate that using generative AI professionally may, in some cases, be counterproductive, or banned, in real work environments.—
Derek Newton,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Advocates, meanwhile, have assailed the measure as cruel and counterproductive.—
Ethan Varian,
The Mercury News,
13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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