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
Worse, the aluminum has a tendency to throw off fragments when struck, producing more debris, which is rather counterproductive.
—David Szondy
october 26, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Still, student editors argue the move to cut print is counterproductive since advertising revenue generated $11,000 in profit from three print editions this semester.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
Trump’s track record on promoting peace aside, experts cautioned that his intense efforts to obtain the peace prize are likely counterproductive.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Others—such as an eagerness to engage someone in combat—work in the gym, ring, and battlefield but become counterproductive and even destructive outside of those contexts.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterproductive
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David Szondy
october 26, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Still, student editors argue the move to cut print is counterproductive since advertising revenue generated $11,000 in profit from three print editions this semester.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
Trump’s track record on promoting peace aside, experts cautioned that his intense efforts to obtain the peace prize are likely counterproductive.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Others—such as an eagerness to engage someone in combat—work in the gym, ring, and battlefield but become counterproductive and even destructive outside of those contexts.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 2025.
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