inefficace

ineffective

adjective een-ef-fee-KAH-cheh Rare

Usage Note

Inefficace means failing to produce the desired result — una cura inefficace (an ineffective treatment). Do not confuse with inefficiente ('inefficient'), which implies wasted effort rather than failure to achieve the goal. Like all adjectives ending in -e, it has the same form for masculine and feminine.

Examples

"Il rimedio si è rivelato inefficace."

Natural Translation

The remedy turned out to be ineffective.

Literal Translation

The remedy itself is revealed ineffective.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

How to Order Coffee in Italy Like a Local

Order coffee in Italy like a local: say un caffè (not espresso), pay at the cassa first, drink al banco, and skip the latte trap. Phrases inside.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Dialects vs Standard Italian: A Guide

Standard Italian works everywhere, so relax: this three-layer guide to Italian dialects vs standard Italian shows what to ignore and what to notice.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read