Dictionary

ineffective en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌɪn.əˈfek.tɪv/ (Australia)
• audio Brisbane
• /ˌɪn.ɪˈfɛk.tɪv/ weak vowel distinction
• /ˌɪn.əˈfɛk.tɪv/ weak vowel merger

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs Proto-Italic *eks Latin ex Latin ex- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁kyéti Proto-Italic *θakjō Proto-Italic *fakjō Latin faciō Latin efficiō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Latin effectīvusbor. French effectifder. English effective English ineffective From in- + effective.

Meanings

1. Not having the desired effect; ineffectual; otiose.
2. Lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate.
   • Fire ants circumvented the problem of an ineffective sting by having an unusual and highly effective venom that when daubed or sprayed on other ants penetrates their waxy protective integumental barrier and kills or disables them. 2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 102:
   • Their use was “impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law]^([sic]) does not allow it”, the decision explained. 2025 May 29, Kalyeena Makortoff, “US federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Forms

Deriveds

ineffectiveness · ineffectively

Synonyms

amateurish · unable · insufficient · otiose · unutilizable · unsufficient · unskillful · dry · ineffectual · fruitless · sleazy · futile · no good · raunchy · unsatisfactory · pointless · scanty · noob · unavailing · clumsy · deficient · exiguous · inept · vain · lean · deficient · awanting · poor · threadbare · ham-handed · bad · skimpy · inadequate · barren · bootless · ineffective · bungling · lousy · scant · geason · inutile · inexpert · maladroit · lank · measly · dismal · paltry · profitless · incapable · insufficient · meager · purposeless · tired · sparse · inapt · void · incompetent · unuseful · unprofessional · unprofitable · useless · ham-fisted · incapable · lame · spare · gainless · slender · scarce · scantling · inept · wanting · wanty · idle · backwards · fruitless · unqualified · inefficacious · miserable · sterile · unprofitable · inefficacious

Translations (31)

ca ineficaç (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · grc ἀνενέργητος (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · pl nieefektywny (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · mi pekekiwi (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · de wirkungslos (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · mi rōrā (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · hu hatástalan (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · gv neuobbragh (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · ca ineficaç (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · pl niekompetentny (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · pl bezskuteczny (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · bg неефективен (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · mi kikokore (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · de unfähig (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · bg неспособен (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · it inadeguato (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · pl bezpłodny (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · it inefficace (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · es ineficaz (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · ga ainéifeachtach (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · ga ainéifeachtach (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · bg неумел (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · mi mohemohe (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · it ineffettivo (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · bg неефикасен (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · cmn 缺乏能力的 (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · es inoperante (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · pl nieadekwatny (lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate) · el ατελέσφορος (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · sv verkningslös (not having the desired effect; ineffectual) · cmn 无效果的 (not having the desired effect; ineffectual)