ineffective

[ in-i-fek-tiv ]
See synonyms for ineffective on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. not effective; not producing results; ineffectual: ineffective efforts; ineffective remedies.

  2. inefficient or incompetent; incapable: an ineffective manager.

  1. lacking in artistic effect, as a literary work, theatrical production, or painting.

Origin of ineffective

1
First recorded in 1645–55; in-3 + effective

Other words from ineffective

  • in·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
  • in·ef·fec·tive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for ineffective

ineffective

/ (ˌɪnɪˈfɛktɪv) /


adjective
  1. having no effect

  2. incompetent or inefficient

Derived forms of ineffective

  • ineffectively, adverb
  • ineffectiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012