as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
a well-intentioned but feckless response to the rise in school violence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of feckless
After blowing a lead and giving up five third-period goals to Vegas, the Kings were utterly feckless in the final frame against Edmonton.
—
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
As head coach, Conte was responsible for motivating his supposedly feckless players.
—Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Kelly, clearly, will keep standing up to these feckless attempts at coercion.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Blaine is not quite as feckless, but Sherman has an ace in the hole in Garfield, who agrees to endorse him in a speech.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feckless
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
As head coach, Conte was responsible for motivating his supposedly feckless players.
—Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Kelly, clearly, will keep standing up to these feckless attempts at coercion.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Blaine is not quite as feckless, but Sherman has an ace in the hole in Garfield, who agrees to endorse him in a speech.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feckless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feckless
Adjective
-
Investigators said that an initial PIT maneuver was unsuccessful, but a second one caused the truck to crash into another vehicle and roll over onto its side – an incident that was caught on home surveillance video.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
Jeremy Brandon Johnson, 53, of Eveleth, was pronounced dead at the scene after lifesaving measures were unsuccessful.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Although this might seem inefficient for a bird of their size, inside a rainforest, long soaring wings would actually be more of a liability than an asset.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
In their final seasons, the critique extends to AI’s temptations and shortcomings, ultimately making the case for the inefficient art of comedy.—
Caroline Framke,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The current environment of Democrat versus Republican, us versus them, renders the entire body ineffectual and incapable of independent agency and thought.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
The processing element tiles operate on compressed matrices, eliminating all unnecessary and ineffectual computation.—
Olivia Hsu,
IEEE Spectrum,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That assumption is both outdated and counterproductive.—
Adam Goodcoff,
STAT,
13 May 2026
-
However foolhardy, counterproductive and costly, cities have a right to challenge state laws.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Feckless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feckless. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
