Effectiveness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Related Entry: Effective (adjective)

Effective is a different word from Effectiveness. The synonyms below are for effective, not for effectiveness.

1. 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"

   similar: effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, operative, potent, productive
   related: hyperefficient, ultraefficient, adequate, capable, competent, accomplished, adept, consummate, experienced, expert, masterly, practiced, proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso, cogent, convincing, killer, sound, striking, telling, valid, active, dynamic, useful, working, applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable, workable
   opposite: fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, inoperative, unfruitful, unproductive, useless
   near: counterproductive, incapable, incompetent, inexperienced, inexpert, unqualified, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful, abortive, bootless, futile, vain, empty, hollow, idle, pointless, unavailing, unprofitable, unsuccessful, inoperative, worthless

2. having the power to persuade

   "made an effective argument in favor of the proposal"

   similar: cogent, compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, forceful, persuasive, satisfying, strong, telling
   related: authoritative, definitive, sound, valid, well-founded, important, significant, weighty, material, pertinent, relevant
   opposite: inconclusive, indecisive, ineffective, uncompelling, unconvincing, unpersuasive
   near: groundless, invalid, shaky, unfounded, unsound, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, immaterial, irrelevant, feeble, weak

3. existing in fact and not merely as a possibility

   "made the mistake of confusing the plant's production capacity with its effective output"

   similar: actual, concrete, de facto, existent, factual, genuine, real, sure-enough, true, very
   related: attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, valid, validated, verified, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, inescapable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable, believable, convincing, literal, realistic, unmistakable, verifiable, authentic, bona fide, real-life, real-world, absolute, certain, final, hard, objective, palpable, positive, substantial, tangible, authoritative, certifiable, certified
   opposite: conjectural, hypothetical, ideal, inexistent, nonexistent, platonic, possible, potential, suppositional, theoretical
   near: alleged, assumed, reputed, supposed, conceived, envisaged, envisioned, imagined, pictured, visualized, chimerical, fabled, fanciful, fictional, fictitious, illusory, legendary, fabricated, fake, imaginary, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, romantic, abstract, symbolic, unreal, virtual