INEFFECTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ineffective mean? 

• INEFFECTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective INEFFECTIVE has 3 senses:

1. not producing an intended effect

2. lacking in power or forcefulness

3. lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively; inadequate

  Familiarity information: INEFFECTIVE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INEFFECTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not producing an intended effect

Synonyms:

ineffective; ineffectual; uneffective

Context example:

ineffective legislation

Similar:

toothless (lacking necessary force for effectiveness)

unproductive (not producing desired results)

Also:

idle (not in action or at work)

inefficacious (lacking the power to produce a desired effect)

inefficient (not producing desired results; wasteful)

powerless (lacking power)

useless (having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully)

Attribute:

effectiveness; effectivity; effectuality; effectualness (power to be effective; the quality of being able to bring about an effect)

Antonym:

effective (producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect)

Derivation:

ineffectiveness (lacking the power to be effective)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking in power or forcefulness

Synonyms:

ineffective; ineffectual; unable

Context example:

like an unable phoenix in hot ashes

Similar:

impotent (lacking power or ability)

Derivation:

ineffectiveness (lacking the power to be effective)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively; inadequate

Synonyms:

ineffective; inefficient

Context example:

inefficient workers

Similar:

incompetent (not qualified or suited for a purpose)

Derivation:

ineffectiveness (lacking the power to be effective)

 Context examples 

In these disorders, the primary role of innate immunity to detect and neutralize pathogens which the individual has not been previously exposed is decreased or ineffective.

(Congenital Disorder of Natural Immunity, NCI Thesaurus)

Aminoglycosides are mostly ineffective against anaerobic bacteria, fungi and viruses.

(Gentamicin, NCI Thesaurus)

As a lysosomotropic agent, hydroxychloroquine raises intralysosomal pH, impairing autophagic protein degradation; hydroxychloroquine-mediated accumulation of ineffective autophagosomes may result in cell death in tumor cells reliant on autophagy for survival.

(Hydroxychloroquine, NCI Thesaurus)

The act of rendering something ineffective or inactive.

(Neutralization, NCI Thesaurus)

It is caused by the ineffective or decreased biosynthesis of the fifth complement component, C5.

(C5 Deficiency, NCI Thesaurus)

They are caused by the ineffective or decreased biosynthesis of complement components.

(Complement Deficiency, NCI Thesaurus)

It is caused by the ineffective or decreased biosynthesis of the third complement component, C3.

(C3 Deficiency, NCI Thesaurus)

“We set out to explore whether this therapy helps very premature infants, but we found that it may be ineffective, which was contrary to what we expected.”

(Diuretic therapy for extremely preterm infants does not alleviate respiratory problems, National Institutes of Health)

Issue associated with the ineffective and inconsistent depolarization of the heart.

(Intermittent Capture Medical Device Problem, Food and Drug Administration)

A clonal hematopoietic disorder characterized by dysplasia and ineffective hematopoiesis in one or more of the hematopoietic cell lines.

(Myelodysplastic syndrome, NCI Thesaurus/WHO)