ineffective
adjective
in·ef·fec·tive
ˌi-nə-ˈfek-tiv 
1
: not producing an intended effect : ineffectual
ineffective lighting
2
: not capable of performing efficiently or as expected : incapable
an ineffective executive
ineffectively
adverb
ineffectiveness
noun
Examples of ineffective in a Sentence
The treatment was ineffective against the disease.
an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation
Recent Examples on the Web
Employees describe her as a poor leader and ineffective communicator who has zealously enacted Trump’s agenda.
—
Eric Geller, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2025
Instead, tariff revenues become entangled in bureaucratic structures, subject to administrative inefficiencies, delays, and ineffective allocation.
—Ali Hoss, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Porter was especially hard on himself after his ineffective series in 2024.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Some had ignored public health advice and listened to people who said vaccines were harmful — including a local pathologist who promoted COVID-19 vaccine skepticism and ineffective treatments, then won appointment to a public health board alongside Labrador.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
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Eric Geller, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2025
Instead, tariff revenues become entangled in bureaucratic structures, subject to administrative inefficiencies, delays, and ineffective allocation.
—Ali Hoss, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Porter was especially hard on himself after his ineffective series in 2024.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Some had ignored public health advice and listened to people who said vaccines were harmful — including a local pathologist who promoted COVID-19 vaccine skepticism and ineffective treatments, then won appointment to a public health board alongside Labrador.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ineffective. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ineffective
adjective
in·ef·fec·tive
ˌin-ə-ˈfek-tiv
1
: not producing the desired effect
an ineffective law
2
: not performing as well as expected or needed
an ineffective leader
ineffectively
adverb
ineffectiveness
noun
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