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 born 1930
W. E. Brock born 1930Examples 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
Beyond that, such dramatic moves could be counterproductive.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Targeting the employers themselves, some of whom Trump relies on for support, would be counterproductive to his agenda, Reisz said.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
Still, Marles suggested the Trump administration's aggressive trade policies were counterproductive.
—Tara Copp, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
Moreover, relying on tariffs as a primary tool for environmental protection is a crude and ultimately counterproductive strategy, especially considering the potential to hinder the transition to clean energy.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterproductive
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Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Targeting the employers themselves, some of whom Trump relies on for support, would be counterproductive to his agenda, Reisz said.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
Still, Marles suggested the Trump administration's aggressive trade policies were counterproductive.
—Tara Copp, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
Moreover, relying on tariffs as a primary tool for environmental protection is a crude and ultimately counterproductive strategy, especially considering the potential to hinder the transition to clean energy.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterproductive
Cite this Entry
“Counterproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterproductive. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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