ineffective

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

ineffective
    adj 1: not producing an intended effect; "an ineffective
           teacher"; "ineffective legislation" [syn: {ineffective},
           {uneffective}, {ineffectual}] [ant: {effective},
           {effectual}, {efficacious}]
    2: lacking in power or forcefulness; "an ineffectual ruler";
       "like an unable phoenix in hot ashes" [syn: {ineffective},
       {ineffectual}, {unable}]
    3: lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively;
       inadequate; "an ineffective administration"; "inefficient
       workers" [syn: {ineffective}, {inefficient}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Ineffective \In`ef*fect"ive\, a. [Pref. in- not + effective: cf.
   F. ineffectif.]
   Not effective; not having the desired effect; ineffectual;
   futile; inefficient; useless; as, an ineffective appeal; an
   ineffective herbal remedy.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

         The word of God, without the spirit, [is] a dead and
         ineffective letter.                      --Jer. Taylor.
   [1913 Webster]

81 Moby Thesaurus words for "ineffective": abortive, aimless, barren, bootless, counterproductive, effete, emasculate, empty, etiolated, failed, failing, fatuitous, fatuous, featherweight, feckless, forceless, fruitless, futile, ill-qualified, impotent, inadequate, inane, incapable, incapable of, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficacious, inefficient, inept, inferior, inoperative, invalid, invertebrate, lame, lightweight, maladjusted, manque, meaningless, miscarried, miscarrying, no go, no-account, not equal to, not up to, nugacious, nugatory, of no account, of no effect, of no force, of no use, pointless, powerless, purposeless, spineless, sterile, stickit, stillborn, successless, superfluous, unable, unable to, unadapted, unadjusted, unauthoritative, unavailable, unavailing, unendowed, unequipped, unfit, unfitted, unfortunate, ungifted, unproductive, unqualified, unsuccessful, untalented, useless, vain, weak, without any weight, worthless