ineffective

adjective

in·​ef·​fec·​tive ˌi-nə-ˈfek-tiv 

1

: not producing an intended effect : ineffectual

ineffective lighting

an ineffective treatment

2

: not capable of performing efficiently or as expected : incapable

an ineffective executive

ineffectively adverb

ineffectiveness noun

Synonyms of ineffective

• unsuccessful
• inefficient
• counterproductive

Examples of ineffective in a Sentence

The treatment was ineffective against the disease.

an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation

Recent Examples on the Web

These spaces exist alongside, not outside of, America’s hugely ineffective — and highly racialized — War on Drugs. —Jerel Ezell, STAT, 1 May 2026

Bump replaces Michkov, scores Flyers coach Rick Tocchet made headlines for removing Matvei Michkov from the lineup after four ineffective games for the second-year forward. —Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026

There’s also the risk that microdosing will be ineffective for treating a condition that could otherwise impact your health. —Cathy Nelson, Health, 27 Apr. 2026

And indeed recent reports suggest that some employees are sabotaging their companies’ AI rollouts by misusing AI tools, generating poor work to make AI appear ineffective, or outright refusing to employ the technology. —Claire Zillman, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ineffective

• intellective
• introspective
• irrespective
• nondirective
• nonselective
• retrospective
• unreflective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective

Kids Definition

ineffective

adjective

in·​ef·​fec·​tive ˌin-ə-ˈfek-tiv 

1

: not producing the desired effect

an ineffective law

2

: not performing as well as expected or needed

an ineffective leader

ineffectively adverb

ineffectiveness noun