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

Synonyms

• counterproductive
• feckless
• hamstrung
• ineffectual
• inefficacious
• inefficient
• inexpedient

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

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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