effective, efficient, effectual
- effective, efficient, effectual
Effective refers to something that has the power to produce, or that actually does produce, an effect or result: "This medicine is an effective remedy for acid indigestion." Efficient implies the use of energy, skill, or industry to accomplish a desired result: "This foreman is an efficient executive." Effectual refers to any agency or force that produces an intended or desired result: "Neighbors, making an effectual search of the area, found the lost children." An efficient salesman is an effectual agent for a company that desires to make its public image effective throughout the country.
Dictionary of problem words and expressions.
Harry Shaw.
1975.
Look at other dictionaries:
effectual — See effective, efficient, effectual … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
effective — See affective. See affective, effective See effective, efficient, effectual … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
efficient — See effective, efficient, effectual … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
effectual — index active, adequate, capable, causal, cogent, competent, constructive (creative), decisive … Law dictionary
effective — I. adjective Date: 14th century 1. a. producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect < an effective policy > b. impressive, striking < a gold lamé fabric studded with effective…precious stones Stanley Marcus > 2. ready for service or action … New Collegiate Dictionary
effective — ef•fec•tive [[t]ɪˈfɛk tɪv[/t]] adj. 1) adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods[/ex] 2) in operation or in force; functioning; operative: The law becomes effective at midnight[/ex] 3) … From formal English to slang
effectual — adj 1. adequate, competent, able, capable, qualified, up to scratch, Inf. up to snuff; satisfactory, sufficient, passable, tolerable, acceptable. 2. effective, efficient, efficacious, operative, functional; powerful, influential. 3. valid, sound … A Note on the Style of the synonym finder
effective — effective, effectual, efficient, efficacious all mean producing or capable of producing a result or results, but they are not freely interchangeable in idiomatic use. Effective emphasizes the actual production of an effect or the power to produce … New Dictionary of Synonyms
effectual — effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient 1. All these words mean ‘having an effect’ of some kind, but with different applications and shades of meaning. Effective means ‘having a definite or desired effect’ that is actual rather than… … Modern English usage
effective — effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient 1. All these words mean ‘having an effect’ of some kind, but with different applications and shades of meaning. Effective means ‘having a definite or desired effect’ that is actual rather than… … Modern English usage
