adjective

ineffective

ihn-ih-FEHK-tihv

adjective

Not producing the result you want or need.

"The new painkiller proved ineffective against her migraines."

"Their marketing campaign was expensive but largely ineffective."

Not capable of doing a job well; incompetent.

"He was an ineffective manager who struggled to motivate his team."

How to Use Ineffective

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that just doesn't work or doesn't get results.

Common mistake

Easy to mix up with inefficient (wastes time/resources even if it works) — ineffective means it simply doesn't achieve the goal at all.

Easily confused with

ineffectual → inefficient →

Common pairings

proved ineffective largely ineffective ineffective treatment

more ineffective comparative, most ineffective superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The new painkiller proved _____ against her migraines.

From in- ("not") + effective, itself from Latin efficere, "to accomplish."

Ive five give dive live hive jive vive olive drive alive waive