feckless

(fĕk'lĭs)
adj.

1. Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.
2. Careless and irresponsible.

[Scots feck, effect (alteration of EFFECT) + -LESS.]

fecklessly feck'less·ly adv.
fecklessness feck'less·ness n.

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The word feckless (purposeless, irresponsible) should not be confused with reckless (careless, headstrong), despite their similar sound and overlapping meaning. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman presumably chose his word carefully:

"The story of the latest terror plot makes the administration's fecklessness and cynicism on terrorism clearer than ever."

Link: Hoping for Fear - New York Times

Posted August 15, 2006.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

adjective

Lacking or marked by a lack of care: careless, heedless, inattentive, irresponsible, reckless, thoughtless, unconcerned, unmindful, unthinking. See careful/careless.

adj

Definition: without purpose
Antonyms: competent, effective, effectual, efficient, purposeful, responsible, strong, useful

1) weak, ineffective
2) worthless, irresponsible

IN BRIEF: Weak or ineffective. Also: careless or irresponsible.

The attempt to secure the fortress was feckless at best.

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For a list of words related to feckless, see:

• Weak, Fearful, or Anxious

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - energiløs, slap, hjælpeløs, uduelig

Nederlands (Dutch)
zwak, waardeloos

Français (French)
adj. - incapable, étourdi, irréfléchi

Deutsch (German)
adj. - nutzlos, wertlos, schwach, leichtsinnig

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - αδύναμος, ασθενικός, ξεψυχισμένος, ψόφιος, άψυχος, πλαδαρός

Italiano (Italian)
inetto, gracile

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - fraco

Русский (Russian)
безответственный, бесполезный, ленивый

Español (Spanish)
adj. - incapaz, incompetente

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - hjälplös

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
没精神的, 无用的, 软弱的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 沒精神的, 無用的, 軟弱的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 효과 없는, 무력한

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 弱々しい, 軽率な

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) ضعيف , عاجز , عقيم , غير بارع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮חלש, בלתי-אחראי‬

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