ineffectual

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.

Europeans have long acknowledged that their slow-growing economies need fixing and that they must boost military spending, though actions to address those shortfalls have been slow or ineffectual.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

It’s also odd that the activist-minded Greengrass didn’t do more with so corporate a villain: legally responsible utility PG&E, represented in the movie by an ineffectual suit who is briefly yelled at.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

In this tit for tat, though, California’s threats to respond have thus far proved ineffectual.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

He said the "ineffectual near silence" from police, prosecutors and the government after the attacks led to disinformation that sparked widespread rioting in the days after the attack.

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2025

General Halleck had shuffled the generals at Pittsburg Landing after the battle there, assigning Grant to an ineffectual position as assistant commander and taking command of the field himself.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt