1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffectual effort to find the trail again did at least lead them to another stunning view of the canyon
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2
as in futile
producing no results
another ineffectual plan to lose weight without dieting or exercising
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Recent Examples of ineffectual
Don’t waste the power of a good rage on ineffectual outbursts at other people who just happen to be nearby.
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Jennifer Culp, Them, 11 Oct. 2024
Any attempts to change that process may be ineffectual or result in even worse outcomes.
—Shoeb Javed, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
When the Obama administration tried this approach, its efforts were haphazard and ineffectual.
—Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Flanked by his third AD, the cheerfully ineffectual Dag (Lolly Adefope), Daniel spends his days putting out fires and managing egos.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ineffectual 
Jennifer Culp, Them, 11 Oct. 2024
Any attempts to change that process may be ineffectual or result in even worse outcomes.
—Shoeb Javed, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
When the Obama administration tried this approach, its efforts were haphazard and ineffectual.
—Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Flanked by his third AD, the cheerfully ineffectual Dag (Lolly Adefope), Daniel spends his days putting out fires and managing egos.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
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Attempts to reach Board of Elections officials about Ike's case Tuesday night were unsuccessful.Amber Hunt, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024
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Momentum then seemed to stall, and Meta filed an unsuccessful motion to dismiss.Adriana Lee, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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After a full year of fighting, efforts to restore peace have proven futile so far, and mitigating the conflict's worst impacts continues to be a daily struggle.Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2024
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Defending himself, Musk said it was meant merely to highlight how futile such an endeavor would be.Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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On top of that, passive learning tends to be slow and inefficient.Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Niccol aims to tackle issues contributing to longer wait times, such as inadequate staffing during peak hours and inefficient food preparation.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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These latest such initiatives focus on linking cookies to devices and apps, rendering thefts useless.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
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Elevators stopped working between floors, stoplights stopped working at intersections and life-saving pacemakers were rendered useless.Mars King, Twin Cities, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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But, early on in Game Five, Flaherty was ineffective, New York went ahead by five runs, and Yankee Stadium emanated good cheer.Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
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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
Adjective
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If certain gender-affirming care interventions turn out to be counterproductive, does mandatory coverage actually benefit patients?Ge Bai, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
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This move, described as reckless by Petty, was seen as a counterproductive decision that ultimately cost him valuable positions in a race critical to his standing heading into the playoffs.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ineffectual
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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