Meaning & use

ineffective

adjective·Academic

Not producing the intended result or effect; failing to achieve a desired outcome.

See it in a sentence

The new advertising campaign proved ineffective and sales continued to fall.

Doctors switched medications after the first treatment was ineffective against the infection.

A note on using this word

Ineffective describes something that doesn't work well, distinct from 'inefficient,' which describes wasted time, effort, or resources.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

effective

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