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

Dismissing the benefits of precious metals in this climate, then, could be both risky and counterproductive. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026

Why Steyer has changed his mind despite his familiarity with the evidence that rent control is counterproductive is anyone’s guess. —Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026

Installing Warsh wouldn’t guarantee that the Fed embarks on this counterproductive course. —Binyamin Appelbaum, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026

Instead of forcing an interpretation upon her audience, de Araújo trusts us to make sense of her characters’ contradictory, if not downright counterproductive mindsets. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 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