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ineffective Definition

in·ef·fec·tive (in′e fek′tiv, -i fek′-)

adjective

  1. not effective; not producing the desired effect; ineffectual an ineffective plan
  2. not capable of performing satisfactorily; incompetent; inefficient an ineffective mayor

ineffective Related Forms
in′·ef·fec′·tively adverb in′·ef·fec′·tive·ness noun
ineffective Synonyms

ineffective

modif.

not effective, ineffectual, incompetent, inefficient, incapable, bungling, weak, impotent, feeble, unproductive, unfruitful, futile, vain, worthless, neutralized; see also incompetent, useless 1.

ineffective Usage Examples

Preposition: against

  • virus: Remember, antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, so they won't help your cold.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • render: The proposed limit would also render the product ineffective.

Modifies a noun

  • trial: In Essex, for example, the number of ineffective trials is down by 75 per cent.
  • enforcement: However, ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights, commercial piracy and counterfeiting of consumer products continue to be a global threat.
  • therapy: All too often, this approach is delayed by years of fruitless searching and ineffective therapy.
  • portion: Any ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the income statement as a finance cost.
  • intervention: The lack of success reported in many studies may reflect inadequate rather than ineffective interventions.
  • attempt: Liberals were alone in opposing the ineffective attempt to legislate in 1986 to protect laboratory animals.

Modifying Another Word

  • singularly: Put simply, the draft Protocol would have been singularly ineffective.
  • largely: Be adopted under been largely ineffective in order to place a per-year.
  • totally: Iraq uses anthrax in a liquid form, which is totally ineffective.
  • relatively: Many of the topical agents as outlined are relatively ineffective.
  • similarly: A sony mavica Abbey Insurance Brokers similarly ineffective as lobbyists.
  • completely: Pesticide use should be a last resort and may well be completely ineffective if the source of the problem is not removed or treated.

Used with adjective complement

  • render: However, they can be rendered ineffective by either opting out of cookies or changing the cookie setup in your browser.
  • prove: The League of Nations founded in 1919 eventually proved ineffective.
  • become: God's word has not become ineffective ( cf.
  • remain: We believe that despite recent positive progress, this is an area in which English Heritage has remained disappointingly ineffective.
  • seem: All too often exercise seems ineffective in bringing life to the good.

Preposition: for

  • purpose: Alternatives to shooting such as snaring, risk other wildlife as well as being largely ineffective for the purpose of controlling foxes.
ineffective Quotes

Die Szenen unsers Lebens gleichen den Bildern in groÞer Mosaik, welche in der N a« he keineWirkung tun, sondern von denen man fern stehn muss, um sie sch o« n zu finden. Thescenes ofour liferesemble picturesinrough mosaic; theyareineffective fromcloseup, and havetobe viewed from a distance if theyare to seem beautiful.

—Schopenhauer, Arthur