Abortive

Quick meaning: Abortive is an adjective meaning Coming to nothing; failing in its effect. .

Meaning

Coming to nothing; failing in its effect. .

More Meanings

1. (biology) Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile.
2. (medicine, pharmacology, rare) Causing abortion; abortifacient.
3. (medicine) Cutting short; acting to halt or slow the progress (of a disease).
4. (medicine, of a disease) Having a short and mild progression, without pronounced symptoms.
5. Made from the skin of a still-born animal.
6. (obsolete) Produced by abortion; born prematurely and therefore unnatural.
7. (obsolete) Someone or something born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.

Example Sentences

an abortive child

an abortive organ

an abortive attempt

Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog!

Word Forms

• abortives
• abortiving
• abortived

Synonyms for abortive

Depending on context, synonyms include miscarrying, fruitless, unsuccessful, useless, unfruitful.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include unfruitful, unsuccessful, aborted, frustrated, foiled, vain.

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