abortive

Plural: abortives

Adjective Satellite

• failing to accomplish an intended result
  • "an abortive revolt"

Adj

• Produced by abortion; born prematurely and therefore unnatural.
• Coming to nothing; failing in its effect. .
• Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile.
• Causing abortion; abortifacient.
• Cutting short; acting to halt or slow the progress (of a disease).
• Having a short and mild progression, without pronounced symptoms.
• Made from the skin of a still-born animal.

Noun

• Someone or something born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.
• A fruitless effort.
• A medicine that causes abortion, an abortifacient.
• A medicine or treatment acting to halt or slow the progress of a disease.

Verb

• To cause an abortion; to render without fruit.

Adjective

• Failing to produce the intended result; unsuccessful.

Examples

• abortive treatment of typhoid fever
• abortive vellum
• an abortive attempt
• an abortive child
• an abortive organ
• an abortive ovule
• an abortive stamen
• My attempt to use all seven tiles was abortive, leaving me with an awkward rack.

Synonyms

stillborn, unsuccessful, fruitless, miscarrying, useless

Anagrams of abortive