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
Opting into a federal voucher program that is costly and ineffective would be irresponsible for our state and our students.
—
Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
The court ruled that Conley's first trial lawyer was ineffective and failed to prevent her cell phone from being a primary source of evidence, according to Syracuse.com.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 22 July 2025
Outlets like The Daily Wire spelled out in brutal detail why confining healthy people to house arrest—while elites flouted the rules—was not just ineffective but downright destructive to society.
—Houman Hemmati, Oc Register, 20 July 2025
Other management methods, such as traps, have so far been ineffective.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
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Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
The court ruled that Conley's first trial lawyer was ineffective and failed to prevent her cell phone from being a primary source of evidence, according to Syracuse.com.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 22 July 2025
Outlets like The Daily Wire spelled out in brutal detail why confining healthy people to house arrest—while elites flouted the rules—was not just ineffective but downright destructive to society.
—Houman Hemmati, Oc Register, 20 July 2025
Other management methods, such as traps, have so far been ineffective.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 July 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 29 Jul. 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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