INEFFECTIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for INEFFECTIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “ineffective”? Find 30 synonyms and 30 related words for “ineffective” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Ineffective” are: ineffectual, uneffective, unable, inefficient, unsuccessful, unproductive, fruitless, profitless, unprofitable, abortive, failed, futile, purposeless, worthless, useless, inefficacious, inadequate, vain, unavailing, to no effect, powerless, impotent, incompetent, incapable, unfit, inept, lame, feeble, weak, poor

Ineffective as an Adjective

Definitions of "Ineffective" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “ineffective” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

  • Lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively; inadequate.
  • Not producing any significant or desired effect.
  • Lacking in power or forcefulness.
  • Not producing an intended effect.

Synonyms of "Ineffective" as an adjective (30 Words)

abortive(of an organ or organism) rudimentary; arrested in development.
Abortive medusae.
failed(of an undertaking or a relationship) not achieving its end or not lasting; unsuccessful.
A failed transport company.
feebleLacking strength.
I know it s feeble but I ve never been one to stand up for myself.
fruitlessFailing to achieve the desired results; unproductive or useless.
A banana leaf from a fruitless palm.
futileUnproductive of success.
A futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage.
impotentLacking power or ability- Freeman J.Dyson.
He was on medication which had made him impotent.
inadequateLacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task.
An inadequate income.
incapable(of a person) too caring or moral to do (something.
The pilot may become incapable from the lack of oxygen.
incompetentShowing lack of skill or aptitude.
The patient is deemed legally incompetent.
ineffectualLacking in power or forcefulness.
An ineffectual campaign.
inefficaciousNot producing the desired effect.
Laws that are inefficacious in stopping crime.
inefficientNot producing desired results; wasteful.
Inefficient transport systems.
ineptRevealing lack of perceptiveness or judgment or finesse.
If the rumor is true can anything be more inept than to repeat it now.
lameDisabled in the feet or legs.
A lame argument.
poorLacking in specific resources, qualities or substances.
A poor land.
powerlessWithout ability, influence, or power.
Troops were powerless to stop last night s shooting.
profitlessWithout profit or reward- D.D.Eisenhower- Shakespeare.
Let us have no part in profitless quarrels.
purposelessDone or made with no discernible point or purpose.
A life essentially purposeless.
to no effectQuantifier; used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns for indicating a complete or almost complete lack or zero quantity of.
unableLacking necessary physical or mental ability.
Dyslexics are unable to learn to read adequately.
unavailingProducing no result or effect.
Their efforts were unavailing.
uneffectiveNot producing an intended effect.
unfitBelow the required standards for a purpose.
Fat and very unfit.
unproductive(of an activity or period) not achieving much; not very useful.
Unproductive meetings.
unprofitable(of a business or activity) not yielding profit or financial gain.
There has been much unprofitable speculation.
unsuccessfulNot successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome.
An unsuccessful attempt to enter Parliament.
uselessNot fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or desired outcome.
We tried to pacify him but it was useless.
vainProducing no result; useless.
A vain attempt.
weakRelating to or denoting the weakest of the known kinds of force between particles which acts only at distances less than about 10 cm is very much weaker than the electromagnetic and the strong interactions and conserves neither strangeness parity nor isospin.
A weak plot.
worthlessLacking in usefulness or value.
Joan had been deserted by a worthless husband.

Usage Examples of "Ineffective" as an adjective

  • A weak and ineffective president.
  • Ineffective legislation.
  • An ineffective teacher.
  • The legal sanctions against oil spills are virtually ineffective.
  • An ineffective administration.

Associations of "Ineffective" (30 Words)

bunglingLacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands- Mary H.
A bungling performance.
fecklessLacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.
Her feckless younger brother.
fruitless(of a tree or plant) not producing fruit.
His fruitless attempts to publish poetry.
futileProducing no result or effect.
Futile years after her artistic peak.
garbageRubbish or waste, especially domestic refuse.
A garbage dump.
incapableUnable to do or achieve (something.
Incapable of doing the work.
incompetenceInability to do something successfully; ineptitude.
Allegations of professional incompetence.
incompetentAn incompetent person.
Incompetent at chess.
ineffectualNot producing any significant or desired effect.
The therapy was ineffectual.
inefficiencyThe state of not achieving maximum productivity; failure to make the best use of time or resources.
The idea is to eliminate inefficiency creating a seamless manufacturing process.
ineptNot elegant or graceful in expression.
The referee s inept handling of the match.
infertileIncapable of reproducing.
Infertile couples are offered specialist advice.
infertilityInability to conceive children or young.
Ecological problems such as increasing soil infertility.
invalidRemove (someone) from active service in the armed forces because of injury or illness.
She spent the rest of her life as an invalid.
maladroitInefficient or inept; clumsy.
A maladroit movement of his hand caused the car to swerve.
powerlessWithout ability, influence, or power.
Troops were powerless to stop last night s shooting.
prodigalA person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but later makes a repentant return.
The government wished to clip the wings of the local authority prodigals.
prodigalityExcessive spending.
senile(of a condition) characteristic of or caused by old age.
She couldn t cope with her senile husband.
spendthriftA person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.
A spendthrift uncle.
sterile(of a plant) not able to produce fruit or seeds.
A sterile ideology lacking in originality.
sterility(of non-living objects) the state of being free of pathogenic organisms.
The disease can cause sterility in males.
tactlessHaving or showing a lack of skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
It was tactless to bring up those disagreeable.
unable(usually followed by `to’) lacking necessary physical or mental ability.
She was unable to conceal her surprise.
unavailingProducing no result or effect.
Their efforts were unavailing.
unfruitfulNot producing fruit or crops; unfertile.
Single trees are often unfruitful and mixed planting is desirable.
unproductive(of an activity or period) not achieving much; not very useful.
The talks between labor and management were unproductive.
unskilledLacking professional skill or expertise.
Unskilled labor.
uselessHaving no ability or skill in a specified activity or area.
He was useless at football.
wastefulInefficient in use of time and effort and materials.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn.

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