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

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

Pushing back against any suggestion of intentional wrongdoing, Joiner proffered that the drug would be competitively counterproductive. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Campbell also pointed out that many law enforcement experts, including the Police Executive Research Forum, say the use of flash-bangs on demonstrators is usually counterproductive. —Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026

What predicts success in one role often becomes irrelevant, or even counterproductive, in the next. —Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 20 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