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  1. Dictionary
    abortive
    /əˈbɔːtɪv/

    adjective

    • 1. failing to produce the intended result: "the rebel officers who led the abortive coup were shot"
    • 2. (of a virus infection) failing to produce symptoms.

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    More definitions, origin and scrabble points

  2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishABORTIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    ABORTIVE definition: 1. An abortive attempt or plan has to be stopped because it has failed: 2. An abortive attempt or…. Learn more.

  3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › abortiveAbortive Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    1. obsolete : prematurely born. 2. : fruitless, unsuccessful. 3. : imperfectly formed or developed. 4. : tending to cut short. abortively adverb. abortiveness noun. Synonyms. barren. bootless. empty. fruitless. futile. ineffective. ineffectual. inefficacious. otiose. profitless. unavailing.

  4. www.dictionary.com › browse › abortiveABORTIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

    Abortive definition: failing to succeed; unsuccessful. See examples of ABORTIVE used in a sentence.

  5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishabortive adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

    Definition of abortive adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

  6. www.thefreedictionary.com › abortiveAbortive - definition of abortive by The Free Dictionary

    adj. 1. Failing to accomplish an intended objective; fruitless: an abortive attempt to conclude the negotiations. 2. Biology Partially or imperfectly developed: an abortive organ. 3. Causing or meant to cause abortion; abortifacient. a·bor′tive·ly adv. a·bor′tive·ness n.

  7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › abortiveAbortive - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

    Abortive is a variation of abort, which means to end something, so something abortive never reaches its end point. If you tried like crazy to run a marathon but couldn't finish, your efforts were abortive. If someone tripped you during the marathon, their efforts were abortive too.

  8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishABORTIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    An abortive attempt or action is unsuccessful. ...an abortive attempt to prevent the current President from taking office. American English : abortive / əˈbɔrtɪv /

  9. en.wiktionary.org › wiki › abortiveabortive - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

    Jun 2, 2024 · abortive (comparative more abortive, superlative most abortive) Produced by abortion; born prematurely and therefore unnatural. [c. 1400–mid 1700s]

  10. www.yourdictionary.com › abortiveAbortive Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    Abortive Definition. ə-bôrtĭv. Meanings. Synonyms. Sentences. Definition Source. Word Forms. Origin. Adjective. Noun. Verb. Filter. adjective. Failing to accomplish an intended objective; fruitless. An abortive attempt to conclude the negotiations. American Heritage. Coming to nothing; unsuccessful; fruitless. Webster's New World.

  11. www.oed.com › dictionary › abortive_nabortive, n. & adj. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English...

    What does the word abortive mean? There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word abortive, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. abortive has developed meanings and uses in subjects including.