counterproductive

adjective

coun·​ter·​pro·​duc·​tive ˌkau̇n-tər-prə-ˈdək-tiv 

: tending to hinder the attainment of a desired goal

… violence as a means to achieve an end is counterproductive.

—W. E. Brock III

Synonyms of counterproductive

• unsuccessful
• inefficient
• ineffective
• inexpedient

Examples of counterproductive in a Sentence

His uncontrollable anger is very counterproductive to his attempt at saving his marriage.

harsh disciplinary measures that prove to be counterproductive

Recent Examples on the Web

Ultimately, glorifying sleep deprivation is counterproductive; prioritizing sleep is key for career longevity and productivity, while chronic insomnia leads to impaired judgment and hinders professional growth. — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Trying to win without Miller or Morejón could be considered counterproductive. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Effective strategies exist, and using alcohol or cannabis to sleep is counterproductive. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026

Some even warned that the ban could prove counterproductive for US robotics efforts to develop humanoid robots. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterproductive

• photoconductive
• superconductive
• abductive
• conductive
• constructive
• deductive
• destructive
• inductive
• instructive
• obstructive
• productive
• reductive