uncompetitive

adjective

un·​com·​pet·​i·​tive ˌən-kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv How to pronounce uncompetitive (audio)
Synonyms of uncompetitivenext
: not competitive : unable to compete
The only real alternative would be to protect those uncompetitive industries against foreign competition.Businessweek
Greene took his latest Courageous to Australia for the current race, but he says he withdrew it when it proved uncompetitive against other boats backed by fatter treasuries.John Rousmaniere
uncompetitiveness noun

Examples of uncompetitive in a Sentence

As long as the school system keeps offering uncompetitive wages, people looking for jobs will apply elsewhere.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Troiano said before this redistricting battle about 90% of congressional races were uncompetitive. Miles Parks, NPR, 14 May 2026 With the Yankees up 2-0 in the sixth inning and one out, Chisholm had an uncompetitive at-bat against Orioles lefty reliever Dietrich Enns. Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 12 May 2026 Tanking’s Impact on Regular Season Basketball Utah’s 46-point margin of victory last Friday was particularly one-sided, but uncompetitive basketball was par for the course during the regular season. Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026 After three uncompetitive losses, the chances of that promise holding true were bleak. Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uncompetitive

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncompetitive was in 1885

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Cite this Entry

“Uncompetitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncompetitive. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

uncompetitive

adjective
un·​com·​pet·​i·​tive ˌən-kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv How to pronounce uncompetitive (audio)
: not competitive : unable to compete
uncompetitiveness noun

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