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abortive
[ uh-bawr-tiv ]
adjective
- failing to succeed; unsuccessful:
an abortive rebellion; an abortive scheme.
Synonyms: vain, unavailing, bootless, ineffectual, fruitless
Antonyms: successful
- born prematurely.
- imperfectly developed; rudimentary.
- Medicine/Medical.
- producing or intended to produce abortion; abortifacient.
- acting to halt progress of a disease.
- Pathology. (of the course of a disease) short and mild without the usual, pronounced clinical symptoms.
- Botany. (of seeds or pollen grains) imperfect; unable to germinate.
abortive
/ əˈbɔːtɪv /
adjective
- failing to achieve a purpose; fruitless
- (of organisms) imperfectly developed; rudimentary
- causing abortion; abortifacient
Other Word Forms
- a·bortive·ly adverb
- a·bortive·ness noun
- nona·bortive adjective
- nona·bortive·ly adverb
- nona·bortive·ness noun
- una·bortive adjective
- una·bortive·ly adverb
- una·bortive·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Example Sentences
His abortive proposal to finagle nominees into office without Senate confirmation alienated legislators whose help he will need over the next four years.
On Saturday morning, four days after Yoon's abortive attempt to declare martial law, the president once again appeared on television.
So it is possible the abortive flight over Kostyantynivka was one of Moscow’s first attempts to test its new weapon in combat conditions.
It led him to launch his short, abortive presidential bid.
Later came boarding school and an abortive spell at Oxford University.
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