1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
an ineffectual effort to find the trail again did at least lead them to another stunning view of the canyon
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
another ineffectual plan to lose weight without dieting or exercising
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Recent Examples of ineffectual
Don’t waste the power of a good rage on ineffectual outbursts at other people who just happen to be nearby.
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Jennifer Culp, Them, 11 Oct. 2024
Any attempts to change that process may be ineffectual or result in even worse outcomes.
—Shoeb Javed, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
When the Obama administration tried this approach, its efforts were haphazard and ineffectual.
—Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Flanked by his third AD, the cheerfully ineffectual Dag (Lolly Adefope), Daniel spends his days putting out fires and managing egos.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ineffectual 
Jennifer Culp, Them, 11 Oct. 2024
Any attempts to change that process may be ineffectual or result in even worse outcomes.
—Shoeb Javed, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
When the Obama administration tried this approach, its efforts were haphazard and ineffectual.
—Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Flanked by his third AD, the cheerfully ineffectual Dag (Lolly Adefope), Daniel spends his days putting out fires and managing egos.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ineffectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ineffectual
Adjective
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Riley's mother began to get worried, and phone records show that many of Riley's family members attempted to reach her but were unsuccessful.Charmaine Patterson, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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In his unsuccessful 2020 race, Trump garnered almost 13,000 votes.Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In 2016, more than 80 percent of Taiwanese people believed that resistance in a potential conflict with China would be futile; by 2022, the proportion of the population expressing this view had nearly halved to 43 percent.David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
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After making a futile effort to revive Asahi with chest compressions, Masa orders No. 17 to sleep and then to wake again.Chris Klimek, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Mature Businesses: Operate, Build, Operate, Experiment Mature companies typically face challenges related to inefficient processes and time management.Agur Jõgi, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Other issues with the existing building include an inefficient layout, small classrooms and narrow, congested hallways.Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Wet down is generally useless—all those air pockets that trap heat are gone.Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024
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However, there's a 250MB limit on individual files, making Box's free version useless for anyone working with video or large audio files, such as podcast recordings.PCMAG, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Planet Green identified a material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting due to ineffective review and approval procedures over journal entries and financial statement preparation.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
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In the study, participants were given either a placebo (an ineffective substance given to a control group) or jujube syrup every day for four weeks.Brittany Lubeck, MS, RDN, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Accordingly, Washington’s aim should be to make clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping how counterproductive and costly to Beijing’s interests these new relationships will turn out to be.Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
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This move, described as reckless by Petty, was seen as a counterproductive decision that ultimately cost him valuable positions in a race critical to his standing heading into the playoffs.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ineffectual
Cite this Entry
“Ineffectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ineffectual. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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