Definitions

efficacious

[ef-i-key-shuhs] / ˌɛf ɪˈkeɪ ʃəs /

ADJECTIVE

effective, productive

Synonyms

STRONG

effective effectual productive

WEAK

active adequate capable competent efficient energetic influential operative potent powerful puissant serviceable strong successful useful virtuous

Antonyms

STRONG

impotent incapable unproductive useless weak

WEAK

inefficacious inefficient unsuccessful

Usage

What are other ways to say efficacious? The adjective efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine. Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy. Effective is applied to a person or a thing that has the power to, or which actually does, produce an effect: an effective boss, remedy, speech. Efficient (applied also to persons) implies the skillful use of energy or industry to accomplish desired results with little waste of effort: efficient methods; an efficient manager.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Prayer is possibly at its most efficacious, certainly its most selfless, when we pray for the souls in purgatory.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The beauty of it is it’s gentle but also highly efficacious.”

From Los Angeles Times

In a paper published in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers outline a new framework for understanding how antidepressants are efficacious in treating MDD.

From Science Daily

“If something was to be made available and shown to be efficacious and safe, I think there would be wide use of it,” Jonker says.

From Science Magazine

The low dose was a little more than 65% efficacious in both cases.

From Science Magazine

efficacious

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words