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Definitions

effective

[ih-fek-tiv, ee-fek‐] / ɪˈfɛk tɪv, iˈfɛk‐ /
ADJECTIVE
successful, persuasive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
active adequate compelling competent direct efficient forceful impressive potent powerful practical successful useful valid
STRONG
effectual efficacious
WEAK
able big-wheel capable cogent convincing emphatic energetic forcible having lead in pencil live moving on the ball operative persuasive playing hardball powerhouse producing resultant serviceable serving sound striking telling trenchant virtuous wicked yielding
Antonyms
STRONGEST
helpless impotent inadequate incapable incompetent ineffective inefficient insufficient unable useless weak worthless
STRONG
unproductive unsuccessful
WEAK
fruitless inoperative
ADJECTIVE
in use at the time
Synonyms
STRONGEST
active direct dynamic
WEAK
actual current in effect in execution in force in operation operative real
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inactive
WEAK
fruitless impotent incapable ineffective inoperative unproductive useless weak

Usage

What are other ways to say effective? The adjective 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. Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy. Efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine. 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.

On Saturday, he added that the Department of Defense turned out “to be flexible on what we needed” but that the effective blacklisting of Anthropic sets an “extremely scary precedent.”

From MarketWatch

On Saturday, he added that the Department of Defense turned out “to be flexible on what we needed” but that the effective blacklisting of Anthropic sets an “extremely scary precedent.”

From MarketWatch

One senior career CDC official said Beyda had proven effective at launching infectious disease initiatives and priority projects.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The most immediate and tangible development affecting oil markets is the effective halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” the head of geopolitical analysis adds.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Their main advantage here is that mass production is relatively simple and effective and they can fire it both from the sea and from land,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.