Inefficacious

Inefficacious
Inefficacious In*ef`fi*ca"cious, a. [Pref. in- not + efficacious: cf. F. inefficace, L. inefficax.] Not efficacious; not having power to produce the effect desired; inadequate; incompetent; inefficient; impotent. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]

The authority of Parliament must become inefficacious . . . to restrain the growth of disorders. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

Note: Ineffectual, says Johnson, rather denotes an actual failure, and inefficacious an habitual impotence to any effect. But the distinction is not always observed, nor can it be; for we can not always know whether means are inefficacious till experiment has proved them ineffectual. Inefficacious is therefore sometimes synonymous with ineffectual. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • inefficacious — [in΄ef i kā′shəs] adj. not efficacious; unable to produce the desired effect [an inefficacious medicine] inefficaciously adv. inefficaciousness n …   English World dictionary

  • inefficacious — index defunct, disabled (made incapable), futile, inadept, inadequate, ineffective, ineffectual, inept ( …   Law dictionary

  • inefficacious — (adj.) 1650s, from IN (Cf. in ) (1) not, opposite of + EFFICACIOUS (Cf. efficacious). Related: Inefficaciously; inefficaciousness (1640s) …   Etymology dictionary

  • inefficacious — ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient Analogous words: inactive, inert, idle: *futile, vain, fruitless, bootless, abortive: *powerless, impotent Antonyms: efficacious Contrasted words: *powerful, potent, forcible, forceful: cogent, telling,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • inefficacious — adjective Date: 1658 lacking the power to produce a desired effect ; ineffective • inefficaciously adverb • inefficaciousness noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • inefficacious — inefficaciously, adv. inefficaciousness, inefficacity /in ef i kas i tee/, n. /in ef i kay sheuhs/, adj. not able to produce the desired effect; ineffective. [1650 60; IN 3 + EFFICACIOUS] * * * …   Universalium

  • inefficacious — adjective a) incapable of having the intended consequence b) not effective Syn: ineffective …   Wiktionary

  • inefficacious — (Roget s Thesaurus II) adjective Not having the desired effect: ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, useless. See AFFECT …   English dictionary for students

  • inefficacious —  A longer way of saying ineffective …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • inefficacious — in·ef·fi·ca·cious || ‚ɪnefɪ keɪʃəs adj. unable to produce the desired results …   English contemporary dictionary

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