ineffectual

Compared meaning: producing no useful result (adjective).

比较义项：没有用处，起不到作用（形容词）。

• useless

  The most general, common word: describes objects, people or actions that have no use or benefit at all; blunter and less formal than futile or ineffectual.

  这是最通用、最常见的词，可以形容物品、人或行为完全没有用处或好处；语气比futile和ineffectual更直接、更不正式。

  This old dictionary is useless because half the pages are missing.

  这本旧词典没有用了，因为一半的书页都不见了。

• futile

  Describes an effort, attempt or action that has no chance of succeeding and gives no useful result; emphasizes hopelessness rather than general uselessness.

  指某种努力、尝试或行为完全没有成功的可能，也得不到任何有用的结果；强调的是徒劳无望，而不是泛泛的没有用处。

  It was futile to argue with him once he had made up his mind.

  一旦他下定了决心，再和他争论就是徒劳的。

• ineffectual 本词

  Describes effort or action, especially a person's leadership or attempts, that fails to produce the intended result; often implies weakness or incompetence rather than hopelessness.

  指某种努力或行为，尤其是一个人的领导或尝试，未能产生预期的效果；通常暗示的是软弱或能力不足，而不是徒劳无望。

  The new manager's ineffectual leadership frustrated the whole team.

  这位新经理软弱无力的领导方式让整个团队感到沮丧。

All three mean something has no useful effect, but differ in focus. Useless is the most common, direct word, for objects, people, or actions. Futile stresses an effort has no chance of succeeding. Ineffectual stresses that someone's action or leadership fails to work, implying weakness.

这三个词都表示“没有用处、起不到作用”，但语气和用法不同。useless最常用、最直接，可以形容物品、人或行为；futile强调某种努力或尝试注定失败、毫无希望；ineffectual则强调某人的行为或领导方式软弱无力，达不到预期效果。