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ineffectual
/ˌɪnɪˈfɛktʃuəl/
not effective
The committee's ineffectual efforts failed to address the crisis.
The committee's attempts were not effective and did not solve the problem.
formal
Not producing any significant or desired effect; ineffective.
The government's ineffectual policies led to public dissatisfaction.
The policies did not work as intended and angered the public.
Her ineffectual leadership style demotivated the team.
Her inability to lead effectively caused the team to lose motivation.
Often used to describe actions, policies, or people who fail to achieve intended results despite effort.
Collocations
ineffectual attemptan unsuccessful effortineffectual leadera leader who fails to inspire or guideineffectual measuresactions that do not produce results
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'ineffective'
'Ineffectual' often implies a lack of skill or power, while 'ineffective' simply means not producing results. 'Ineffectual' carries a stronger negative connotation.
Gold Rule
Use with nouns describing actions or qualities
Pair 'ineffectual' with nouns that describe efforts, policies, leadership, or attempts (e.g., 'ineffectual policy,' 'ineffectual leader'). Avoid using it to describe objects or abstract concepts directly.
Word Origin
From Latin ineffectualis, from in- (not) + effectivus (effective), from efficere (to accomplish), from ex- (out) + facere (to make). First recorded in English in the mid-17th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal contexts to criticize actions, policies, or leadership. Avoid using for people unless describing their actions or qualities directly.
Word Breakdown
in-
not
prefixeffect
result or outcome
root-ual
relating to
suffixEnglish Dictionary