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

Need another word that means the same as “ineffectual”? Find 31 synonyms and 30 related words for “ineffectual” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Ineffectual” are: ineffective, uneffective, futile, meaningless, otiose, unavailing, unable, inefficient, inefficacious, unsuccessful, powerless, impotent, inadequate, inept, incompetent, incapable, unfit, lame, feeble, weak, poor, unproductive, profitless, fruitless, failed, abortive, vain, useless, worthless, bungled, bungling

Ineffectual as an Adjective

Definitions of "Ineffectual" as an adjective

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

• Not producing an intended effect.
• Lacking in power or forcefulness.
• Producing no result or effect.
• Not producing any significant or desired effect.
• (of a person) lacking the ability or qualities to fulfil a role or handle a situation.

Synonyms of "Ineffectual" as an adjective (31 Words)

abortive	Failing to accomplish an intended result. Abortive medusae.
bungled	(of a task) carried out clumsily or incompetently. A bungled job.
bungling	Making or characterized by many clumsy mistakes. A bungling performance.
failed	(of an undertaking or a relationship) not achieving its end or not lasting; unsuccessful. A failed coup attempt.
feeble	Failing to convince or impress. A feeble excuse.
fruitless	(of a tree or plant) not producing fruit. A fruitless search.
futile	Unproductive of success. It is futile to allocate blame for this.
impotent	Unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless. He was seized with an impotent anger.
inadequate	Lacking the quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose. The staff was inadequate.
incapable	Unable to do or achieve (something. Incapable of carrying a tune.
incompetent	Not having or showing the necessary skills to do something successfully. Incompetent witnesses.
ineffective	Lacking in power or forcefulness. The legal sanctions against oil spills are virtually ineffective.
inefficacious	Lacking the power to produce a desired effect. Laws that are inefficacious in stopping crime.
inefficient	Not producing desired results; wasteful. An inefficient campaign against drugs.
inept	Having or showing no skill; clumsy. An inept remark.
lame	(of an explanation or excuse) unconvincingly feeble. Despite his lame leg he fled.
meaningless	Producing no result or effect. Rules are meaningless to a child if they do not have a rationale.
otiose	Producing no result or effect. Otiose lines in a play.
poor	Of insufficient quantity to meet a need. He is in my poor opinion a more handsome young man.
powerless	Without ability, influence, or power. Troops were powerless to stop last night s shooting.
profitless	Without profit or reward. Let us have no part in profitless quarrels.
unable	Lacking the skill, means, or opportunity to do something. Unable to obtain funds.
unavailing	Achieving little or nothing; ineffective. An unavailing attempt.
uneffective	Not producing an intended effect.
unfit	Below the required standards for a purpose. An unfit parent.
unproductive	Not producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, or other commodities. Elimination of high cost or unproductive industries.
unsuccessful	Failing to accomplish an intended result. An unsuccessful attempt to enter Parliament.
useless	Having no ability or skill in a specified activity or area. A kitchen full of useless gadgets.
vain	Producing no result; useless. The vain hope of finding work.
weak	Relating 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. Their commitment to the project is weak.
worthless	Having no real value or use. Joan had been deserted by a worthless husband.

Usage Examples of "Ineffectual" as an adjective

• An ineffectual ruler.
• An ineffectual campaign.
• She was neglectful and ineffectual as a parent.
• The therapy was ineffectual.

Associations of "Ineffectual" (30 Words)

bootless	Unproductive of success. Remonstrating with him seems ever to have been a bootless task.
counterproductive	Tending to hinder the achievement of a goal. Child experts fear the Executive s plans may prove counterproductive.
disabled	Relating to or specifically designed for people with a physical or mental disability. Facilities for disabled people.
execrable	Of very poor quality or condition. Execrable cheap wine.
feckless	Lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible. Her feckless younger brother.
fruitless	(of a tree or plant) not producing fruit. A banana leaf from a fruitless palm.
futile	Unproductive of success. A futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage.
futilely	In a futile and unproductive manner.
handicapped	People collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped. His third child was born severely handicapped.
helpless	Lacking in or deprived of strength or power. Lying ill and helpless.
incapable	Not allowing the possibility of (a particular action. A man incapable of any kind of prejudice.
incompetence	Lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications. Allegations of professional incompetence.
incompetent	An incompetent person. Incompetent witnesses.
ineffective	Lacking in power or forcefulness. An ineffective teacher.
inefficiency	Unskillfulness resulting from a lack of efficiency. The idea is to eliminate inefficiency creating a seamless manufacturing process.
inept	Not elegant or graceful in expression. The referee s inept handling of the match.
ineptitude	Lack of skill or ability. The officials displayed remarkable ineptitude.
infertile	Incapable of reproducing. An infertile couple.
invalid	Disable (someone) by injury or illness. She spent the rest of her life as an invalid.
powerless	Lacking power. Troops were powerless to stop last night s shooting.
sterile	(of a plant) not able to produce fruit or seeds. A sterile needle and syringes.
torpor	A state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility. He fell into a deep torpor.
unable	(usually followed by `to’) lacking necessary physical or mental ability. Like an unable phoenix in hot ashes.
unavailing	Producing no result or effect. An unavailing attempt.
unfruitful	Not producing fruit or crops; unfertile. The meeting was unfruitful.
unproductive	Not producing desired results. The talks between labor and management were unproductive.
useless	Not fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or desired outcome. A kitchen full of useless gadgets.
vain	Producing no result; useless. A vain attempt.
wasteful	Inefficient in use of time and effort and materials. Wasteful energy consumption.
weak	Relating 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. He had a weak stomach.