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INEFFECTIVE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively; inadequate
Example:
inefficient workers
Synonyms:
ineffective; inefficient
Classified under:
Similar:
incompetent (not qualified or suited for a purpose)
Derivation:
ineffectiveness (lacking the power to be effective)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Not producing an intended effect
Example:
ineffective legislation
Synonyms:
ineffective; ineffectual; uneffective
Classified under:
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 3
Meaning:
Lacking in power or forcefulness
Example:
like an unable phoenix in hot ashes
Synonyms:
ineffective; ineffectual; unable
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
impotent (lacking power or ability)
Derivation:
ineffectiveness (lacking the power to be effective)
Context examples:
Hay added, "Our work indicates that local management provides a degree of insurance against global stresses, but there are likely higher temperatures that render the insurance ineffective."
(Voracious fish defend coral reefs against warming, Wikinews)
A broad classification of disorders where circulating numbers of B lymphocytes are decreased or ineffective.
(Deficiency of Humoral Immunity, NCI Thesaurus)
A fourth-generation, parenteral cephalosporin with strong activity against glucose non-fermentative bacillus bacteria, but is ineffective against gram-positive cocci.
(Cefclidin, NCI Thesaurus)
Anyone who has tried to cool down on a hot night by opening the window will no doubt be familiar with how ineffective this is when there is no wind.
(Wind more effective than cold air at cooling rooms naturally, University of Cambridge)
Circulating numbers of T lymphocytes are decreased or ineffective.
(Congenital T-Cell Immunodeficiency, NCI Thesaurus)
The development of neurogenic bladder implies that surgical decompression was either ineffective, delayed or not attempted.
(Cauda Equina Syndrome with Neurogenic Bladder, NCI Thesaurus)
MRSA has become a serious problem in hospital- and community-acquired infections, forcing doctors to turn to alternative antibiotics, or a cocktail of different drugs which are often less effective, and raises concerns that even these drugs will in time become ineffective.
(Widely-available antibiotics could be used in the treatment of ‘superbug’ MRSA, University of Cambridge)
