GeezerVison

English

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 ex-

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 effectīvuslbor.

French effectifder.

English effective

English ineffective

From in- + effective.

ineffective (comparative more ineffective, superlative most ineffective)

Not having the desired effect; ineffectual; otiose.
Synonyms: fruitless, inefficacious, unprofitable, lame; see also Thesaurus:futile
Lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate.
Synonyms: incapable, inept; deficient, insufficient; see also Thesaurus:unskilled, Thesaurus:inadequate
- 2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 102:
  Fire ants circumvented the problem of an ineffective sting by having an unusual and highly effective venom that when daubed or sprayed on other ants penetrates their waxy protective integumental barrier and kills or disables them.
- 2025 May 29, Kalyeena Makortoff, “US federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎^[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 October 2026:
  Their use was “impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law]^[sic] does not allow it”, the decision explained.

not having the desired effect; ineffectual

lacking in ability; incompetent or inadequate