Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adj
Not having the desired effect; ineffectual; otiose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: fruitless, inefficacious, unprofitable, bootless, barren, futile, sterile, gainless, idle, inane, ineffectual, inutile, no good, otiose, pointless, profitless, purposeless, tired, unavailing, unuseful, unutilizable, useless, vain, void
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: incapable, inept, deficient, insufficient, amateurish, backwards, bad, bungling, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, inapt, incompetent, ineffective, inexpert, maladroit, miserable, noob, unable, unprofessional, unqualified, unskillful, awanting, dismal, exiguous, geason, inadequate, lank, lean, lousy, meager, measly, paltry, poor, raunchy, scant, scantling, scanty, scarce, skimpy, sleazy, slender, spare, sparse, threadbare, unsatisfactory, unsufficient, wanting, wanty
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
not producing an intended effect
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: uneffective, ineffectual
Antonyms: effective
adjective satellite
lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively; inadequate
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: inefficient
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
lacking in power or forcefulness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: ineffectual, unable
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- Proto-Indo-European *h1éǵh Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h1éǵhs Proto-Italic *eks Latin ex Latin ef- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1k- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *dhh1kyéti Proto-Italic *θakjō Proto-Italic *fakjō Latin faciō Latin efficiō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Latin effectīvusbor. French effectifder. English effective English ineffective From in- + effective.
Across languages
28 source translations are retained for this English entry.
