efficacious
/,efi'keiʃəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Capable of producing the desired or intended result; effective: Describes something that successfully achieves its purpose or has the desired effect.
- Having the power to produce a specific effect: Often used in formal or medical contexts to describe treatments, laws, or methods that work as intended.
Usage Examples
General Use:
- The new policy proved to be efficacious in reducing traffic congestion.
- For the treatment to be efficacious, the patient must complete the full course of medication.
Medical/Scientific Context:
- This vaccine is highly efficacious against the most common strains of the virus.
- Clinical trials are needed to determine if the drug is efficacious for this condition.
Advanced Usage
"Proved efficacious": Demonstrated to be effective.
- The diplomatic strategy proved efficacious in de-escalating the conflict.
"Efficacious in": Effective for a specific purpose or action.
- The software was efficacious in identifying security vulnerabilities.
Variants and Related Words
Efficacy (n): The ability to produce a desired or intended result.
- Researchers are studying the efficacy of the new teaching method.
Inefficacious (adj): Not able to produce a desired effect; ineffective.
- The old marketing campaign was largely inefficacious.
Synonyms
- Effective: Successful in producing a desired or intended result.
- Effectual: (Formal) Producing the intended result; fully adequate.
- Potent: Having great power, influence, or effect.
- Efficient: Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. (Note: While related, "efficient" often focuses on the manner of achieving a result with minimal waste, whereas "efficacious" focuses on the capability to achieve the result itself.)
Antonyms
- Ineffective: Not producing any significant or desired effect.
- Inefficacious: (Formal) Not effective.
- Futile: Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
Adjective
- producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
- an air-cooled motor was more effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-distance transportation-LewisMumford
- effective teaching methods
- effective steps toward peace
- made an effective entrance
- his complaint proved to be effectual in bringing action
- an efficacious law
- marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect
- written propaganda is less efficacious than the habits and prejudices...of the readers-Aldous Huxley
- the medicine is efficacious in stopping a cough