How to Use ineffective in a Sentence

ineffective

adjective
Definition of ineffectivenext
Synonyms for ineffectivenext
  • The treatment was ineffective against the disease.
  • His slider, which has been his best pitch recently, was ineffective.
    — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 31 Aug. 2022
  • Her serve, which had helped her rack up the most aces on the women’s tour this season, became suddenly ineffective.
    — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022
  • Portland would seek to hang onto its lead the rest of the way against a Seattle side that had to that point been highly ineffective with the ball.
    — oregonlive, 26 Aug. 2022
  • What’s happening now matters because of what came before, which was in its own moment ineffective due to repetition.
    — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022
  • Many in the Black Belt live in areas that are too rural for large sewer lines to be cost-effective, but where the thick clay soil makes most septic tank systems ineffective.
    — Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 18 Sep. 2022
  • In the face of such Black Swan events, last year’s thinking is ineffective at best.
    — Richard Torrenzano, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2022
  • Democrats say the wall is ineffective and sends a message that the country does not want to let anyone in.
    — Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2022
  • Even if Watson is ineffective, the Browns offense has been in a good rhythm to make up for points.
    — Dan Labbe, cleveland, 4 Dec. 2022
  • But many of us know that yelling is an ineffective way to get your kids to listen to you or take action.
    — Vicki Glembocki, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024
  • But slice through any chunk of firewood and hit dirt or a rock, and your blade can go from sharp to ineffective in a second.
    — Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 13 July 2023
  • Point guard Chris Paul was ineffective and the only numbers the bench put up on the stat sheet were in the minutes played column.
    — Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 20 Oct. 2022
  • That means the price cap will be ineffective, Brusuelas said.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024
  • Otherwise, the user might find the gun painful or, on the other side of the spectrum, ineffective.
    — Amy Schlinger, wsj.com, 30 Sep. 2023
  • So, many of my best weapons, most of which applied a fire status, were ineffective.
    — Kris Holt, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023
  • Some people claim that weight loss gummies are ineffective, but this is not the case.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022
  • Zekovnet said that there is no justice in the colony, and trying to complain was ineffective.
    — Juliet Butler, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2022
  • The run game was ineffective, and the defense gave up two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
    — Richard Morin, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2022
  • The stun gun was ineffective in subduing the man with the knife, who then lunged at the other officer and stabbed him in the head and shoulder, O’Connor said.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Dec. 2022
  • But as poor as the Clippers held on to the ball, the Raptors proved just as ineffective at shooting it, just 39% to enter halftime tied.
    — Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
  • Trehern then began fleeing the scene foot when the deputy chased the 21-year-old man and attempted to Tase him but the stun gun was ineffective.
    — Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 11 Jan. 2023
  • The taser, according to authorities, was ineffective and the two were engaged in a fight on the ground.
    — John Sharp | , al, 7 Apr. 2023
  • At least one study shows the bill is likely to be ineffective at boosting supply.
    — Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2024
  • The goat’s loose skin made the dog’s lunges at its throat ineffective, flummoxing the dog, and the goat couldn’t work out why the dog — in lieu of head-butting back with its horns — kept nipping from beneath.
    — Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023
  • With the oldest grandson, when he was bullied, the police got involved when the school was ineffective.
    — Annie Lane, Anchorage Daily News, 19 June 2023
  • The entire City Council has been silent and ineffective.
    — Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2024
  • Of this year’s first nine installments, the opener is by far the best, while the others range from uneven to largely ineffective.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2024
  • One deputy fired multiple less-lethal shotgun rounds at Gilmore to stop and disarm him, but the rounds were ineffective.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024
  • My sister-in-law’s response to her dogs was ineffective.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2024
  • But the reality is that if top leadership isn’t aligned, any attempts at transformation further down the line will be ineffective.
    — Carlos Hoyos, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ineffective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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