adjective
ineffectual
ih-nih-FEHKT-shoo-uhl
adjective
1
Failing to produce the desired effect; not achieving much.
"The committee's response to the crisis was slow and ineffectual."
"His apology felt ineffectual and did nothing to repair the friendship."
2
Weak or indecisive in character; lacking force of personality.
"She came across as an ineffectual leader who avoided tough decisions."
How to Use Ineffectual
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot getting anything done, or lacking the backbone to make things happen.
Common mistake
Often used specifically about a person's weak, wishy-washy manner, not just a failed action — that personal, character sense is where it differs slightly from ineffective.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
more ineffectual comparative, most ineffectual superlative
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The committee's response to the crisis was slow and _____.
Etymology
From in- + effectual, from Latin effectus, "accomplished."