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
Finally, decades of strict criminal responses to drug use have not only proven to be largely ineffective but also dramatically unfair.
—
Michael Abrams, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2025
Some of them ended up being very effective (Anthony DeSclafani, Wood), and some of them were ineffective (Aaron Sanchez, Scott Kazmir).
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
Catch up quick: The bill's introduction comes after state legislative leaders sent a December letter to Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, accusing the city's police department of being ineffective at curbing crime and homelessness and threatening state intervention.
—Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Coordination is also critical: U.S. export controls preventing China from acquiring advanced technologies, for instance, are ineffective if China can simply acquire them from another country.
—Geoffrey Gertz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
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Michael Abrams, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2025
Some of them ended up being very effective (Anthony DeSclafani, Wood), and some of them were ineffective (Aaron Sanchez, Scott Kazmir).
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
Catch up quick: The bill's introduction comes after state legislative leaders sent a December letter to Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, accusing the city's police department of being ineffective at curbing crime and homelessness and threatening state intervention.
—Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Coordination is also critical: U.S. export controls preventing China from acquiring advanced technologies, for instance, are ineffective if China can simply acquire them from another country.
—Geoffrey Gertz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 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 28 Feb. 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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