1
as in efficient
producing or capable of producing a desired result
an effective treatment of the once-dreaded disease gave an effective speech that won over many undecided voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compelling
having the power to persuade
made an effective argument in favor of the proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
made the mistake of confusing the plant's production capacity with its effective output
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of effective
New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber, who has done a stellar job these past four years, must rescind her resignation (which is effective this coming Friday) and Mayor Mamdani must agree to keep her on.
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
Additionally, a 2023 systematic review in Cureus found that high-intensity and high-impact exercises are effective in maintaining or improving bone density in the lumbar spine and femur in postmenopausal people.
—Danielle Zickl, Outside, 11 Jan. 2026
Regularly reviewing and limiting app permissions in your phone's settings is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your privacy.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Ethical or not, the strategy can be effective for lending credibility to a particular viewpoint.
—Colin Lecher, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for effective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effective
Adjective
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Young was remarkably efficient, throwing three TD passes of 30-plus yards and going 15-for-20 for 206 yards.—
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The problem is Herro provided the bench’s only efficient production against the Timberwolves.—
Adjective
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
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Their work, published in Nano-Micro Letters, presents a compelling strategy for bridging laboratory materials innovation and real-world battery deployment.—
Adjective
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Carote 16-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set The right nonstick cookware can be an actual kitchen game changer—and Carote’s 16-piece set delivers on that promise.—
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Everything was really incorrect for the period—shiny, sparkly, overdone—but the actual shapes and silhouettes of his clothes are quite accurate.—
Adjective
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The Gators found their offensive flow and applied the defensive clamps against the high-scoring Bulldogs during a convincing and pivotal 92-77 win Tuesday night at the O’Connell Center.—
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After pulling away in the second half, Old Rochester continued building league momentum with a convincing 54-32 victory.—
Adjective
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The defense bent a lot and didn’t break often but didn’t have any real signature plays.—
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While some calas are accessible by car, others can only be reached by a short hike—that’s where visitors will find the real magic and privacy.—
Adjective
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No conclusive plan has been formed to either engage in talks with another professional sports team or repurpose the current site of Arrowhead Stadium – though Lucas and LeVota, respectively, said the city and county could explore both in the next five years.—
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While there is no conclusive evidence indicating a best time to drink aloe vera gel for digestive health, consuming it at specific times may support different health goals.—
Adjective
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But under questioning from Cruz, Vladeck conceded that approving a nondisclosure order without any factual proffer would be inconsistent with a judge’s oath, if that hypothetical were true.—
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The producer is Angie Daniell, the casting director is Jenny Duffy, the factual producer is Louise Kentleton and director of production is Lianne Hickey.—
Adjective
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Also at tight end, Jackson Verdugo, who had a strong freshman season, is due back, and FIU signed incoming freshmen Davis Brown and Ayden Passley.—
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Nicole says Hannah did get better and stronger — strong enough that Hannah's neurologist told her the whole story.—
Cite this Entry
“Effective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effective. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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