ineffectual

• ineffectuall (obsolete)

From in- +‎ effectual.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɪnɪˈfɛkt͡ʃuəl/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌɪnəˈfɛkt͡ʃuəl/

ineffectual (comparative more ineffectual, superlative most ineffectual)

1. Unable or insufficient to produce effect.

   Synonyms: futile; see also Thesaurus:futile

   • 1865, Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod, Chapter II. "Stage-coach Views", page 16.

     This coach was an exceedingly narrow one, but as there was a slight spherical excess over two on a seat, the driver waited till nine passengers had got in, without taking the measure of any of them, and then shut the door after two or three ineffectual slams, as if the fault were all in the hinges or the latch,—while we timed our inspirations and expirations so as to assist him.

   • 1964 July, “News and Comment: The Broad Street-Richmond line”, in Modern Railways, page 17:

     Until the recent rash of North London line maps appeared on station billboards in the London area of BR, the service undoubtedly suffered from meagre and ineffectual publicity.

   • 2013 May 10, James Ball, “US government attempts to stifle 3D-printer gun designs will ultimately fail”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     And this is where the larger problem lies: when states try to enforce impossible bans, everyone loses. 3D printing farragoes have all the hallmarks of the absolute worst kind of ineffectual ban: one which encourages overly draconian laws that carry huge side effects, and that ultimately to have little to no effect.

2. Worthless; ineffective.
3. Weak, indecisive; lacking forcefulness.

   Our group leader proved highly ineffectual, caving to every whim put forth by the other members.

• feckless

• effectual

• “ineffectual”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.