Adjacent Words

Efficacious definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EFFICA'CIOUS, a. [L. efficax, from efficio. See Effect.]
Effectual; productive of effects; producing the effect intended; having power adequate to the purpose intended; powerful; as an efficacious remedy for disease.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: 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" [ant: inefficacious]
2: 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" [syn: effective, effectual, efficacious] [ant: ineffective, ineffectual, uneffective]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Latin efficac-, efficax, from efficere Date: 1528 having the power to produce a desired effect <an efficacious remedy> Synonyms: see effective • efficaciously adverb • efficaciousness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. (of a thing) producing or sure to produce the desired effect. Derivatives: efficaciously adv. efficaciousness n. efficacy n. Etymology: L efficax (as EFFICIENT)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Efficacious Ef`fi*ca"cious, a. [L. eficax, -acis, fr. efficere. See Effect, n.] Possessing the quality of being effective; productive of, or powerful to produce, the effect intended; as, an efficacious law. Syn: See Effectual. -- Ef`fi*ca"cious*ly, adv. -- Ef`fi*ca"cious*ness, n.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Something that is efficacious is effective. (FORMAL) The nasal spray was new on the market and highly efficacious. = effective ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Effectual, effective, powerful, active, operative, efficient, energetic, of adequate power.

Moby Thesaurus

able, active, adequate, authoritative, capable, charismatic, charming, competent, consequential, effective, effectual, efficient, enchanting, equal to, estimable, functional, go, important, influential, magnetic, momentous, operational, operative, personable, persuasive, potent, powerful, practical, prestigious, productive, proficient, puissant, reputable, serviceable, strong, suasive, substantial, successful, telling, up to, useful, virtuous, weighty, winning