| Main Entry: | ineffectual |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | useless |
Synonyms: |
futile, hopeless, idle, impotent, inadequate, ineffective, inefficient, insufficient, unable, unavailing, unproductive, vain, weak |
| Notes: | ineffectual refers to a general or habitual lack of success in the carrying out of one's projects; ineffective refers to a specific or definite failure to perform a task or accomplish a purpose |
Antonyms: |
effective, effectual |
| Main Entry: | abortive |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | failing to achieve a goal |
Synonyms: |
failed, failing, fruitless, futile, ineffective, ineffectual, miscarried, unavailing, unproductive, unsuccessful, useless, vain, worthless |
Antonyms: |
complete, consummated, effectual, efficient, fruitful, productive, successful |
| Main Entry: | empty |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | fruitless, ineffective |
Synonyms: |
aimless, banal, barren, cheap, dead, deadpan, devoid, dishonest, dumb, expressionless, fatuous, flat, frivolous, futile, hollow, idle, ignorant, inane, ineffectual, inexpressive, insincere, insipid, jejune, meaningless, nugatory, otiose, paltry, petty, purposeless, senseless, silly, trivial, unintelligent, unreal, unsatisfactory, unsubstantial, vacuous, vain, valueless, vapid, worthless |
Antonyms: |
abundant, copious, effective, fruitful, productive, sufficient |
| Main Entry: | feckless |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | without purpose |
Synonyms: |
aimless, carefree, careless, feeble, fustian, futile, good-for-nothing, hopeless, incautious, incompetent, ineffective, ineffectual, irresponsible, meaningless, reckless, shiftless, uncareful, useless, weak, wild, worthless |
| Notes: | feckless means ineffective or having no real worth or purpose; reckless means marked by unthinking boldness or with defiant disregard for danger or consequences |
Antonyms: |
competent, effective, effectual, efficient, purposeful, responsible, strong, useful |
| Main Entry: | feeble |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | not strong; ineffective |
Synonyms: |
aged, ailing, chicken*, debilitated, decrepit, delicate, doddering, dopey, effete, emasculated, enervated, enfeebled, etiolated, exhausted, failing, faint, flabby, flat, fragile, frail, gentle, helpless, impotent, inadequate, incompetent, indecisive, ineffectual, inefficient, infirm, insubstantial, insufficient, lame, languid, low, out of gas, paltry, poor, powerless, puny, sapless, sickly, slight, strengthless, tame, thin, unconvincing, vitiated, weak, weakened, weakly, wimpy, woozy, zero* |
Antonyms: |
able, effective, hardy, healthy, hearty, powerful, solid, sound, strong |
| Main Entry: | fruitless |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | bringing no advantage, product |
Synonyms: |
abortive, barren, empty, futile, gainless, idle, in vain, ineffective, ineffectual, infertile, pointless, profitless, spinning one's wheels, sterile, to no avail, to no effect, unavailable, unavailing, unfruitful, unproductive, unprofitable, unprolific, unsuccessful, useless, vain, wild goose chase |
Antonyms: |
copious, fruitful, plentiful, potent, productive, profitable, successful, useful |
| Main Entry: | futile |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | hopeless, pointless |
Synonyms: |
abortive, barren, bootless, delusive, empty, exhausted, forlorn, fruitless, hollow, idle, impracticable, impractical, in vain, ineffective, ineffectual, insufficient, no dice, nugatory, on a treadmill, otiose, out the window, profitless, resultless, save one's breath, sterile, to no avail, to no effect, to no purpose, trifling, trivial, unavailing, unimportant, unneeded, unproductive, unprofitable, unreal, unsatisfactory, unsubstantial, unsuccessful, useless, vain, valueless, worthless |
Antonyms: |
fruitful, hopeful, productive, profitable |
| Main Entry: | impotent |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | disabled; unable to perform action |
Synonyms: |
barren, crippled, dud, effete, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, forceless, frail, gutless, helpless, inadequate, incapable, incapacitated, incompetent, ineffective, ineffectual, inept, infecund, infirm, nerveless, paper tiger, paralyzed, powerless, prostrate, sterile, unfruitful, unproductive, weak |
Antonyms: |
able, capable, fertile, potent, productive, strong |
| Main Entry: | incompetent |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | unskillful, unable |
Synonyms: |
amateur, amateurish, awkward, bungling, bush-league, clumsy, disqualified, floundering, helpless, inadequate, incapable, ineffectual, inefficient, ineligible, inept, inexperienced, inexpert, insufficient, maladroit, not cut out for, not equal to, not have it, out to lunch, raw, unadapted, unequipped, unfit, unfitted, unhandy, uninitiated, unproficient, unqualified, unskilled, untrained, useless |
Antonyms: |
able, adept, capable, competent, dexterous, effective, efficient, experienced, expert, proficient, skillful |
| Main Entry: | ineffective/ineffectual |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | weak, useless |
Synonyms: |
abortive, anticlimactic, barren, bootless, defeasible, feckless, feeble, forceless, fruitless, futile, idle, impotent, inadequate, incompetent, indecisive, inefficacious, inefficient, inept, inferior, innocuous, inoperative, invertebrate, lame, limited, neutralized, nugatory, null, null and void, paltry, powerless, spineless, unable, unavailing, unfruitful, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, vain, void, withered, worthless |
Antonyms: |
competent, effective, effectual, efficient, powerful, strong, useful |