unproductive

adjective un·pro·duc·tive \ ˌən-prə-ˈdək-tiv , -prō- \

Definition of unproductive

:not effective in bringing something about :not yielding results, benefits, or profits :not productive

unproductive meetings

unproductive strategies

unproductive workers

See unproductive defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unproductive from the Web

One option involved unproductive travel time while the other meant spending time on a call trying to figure out who was talking about what.

— barb darrow, Fortune, "Here’s How MLB Uses Videoconferencing for its Biggest Games," 29 Aug. 2017
While Tolzien was better – the Colts converted a third down! – the first-team offense has been wildly unproductive throughout this preseason.

— zak keefer, Indianapolis Star, "Colts vs. Steelers: 4 things to watch," 25 Aug. 2017
The Associated Press's Sean Sullivan reports that members will have a lot of explaining to do after what has been a historically unproductive session.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Wasserman Schultz on standing by Imran Awan until his arrest," 4 Aug. 2017
On runs like last Tuesday’s, my internal dialogue is unproductive at best and often downright harsh.

— cindy kuzma, SELF, "Mental Tricks to Make Your Runs Faster, Easier, and More Fun," 26 July 2017
However, unproductive employees create additional work for efficient, productive ones.

— tom cooney and crystal faulkner, Cincinnati.com, "How to minimize business costs," 25 July 2017
But since complaining about your bosses could be unproductive and risky, focusing on the break policy is a smarter move.

— marie g. mcintyre, idahostatesman, "Workers wonder about boss’s smoke breaks," 2 July 2017
First baseman Danny Valencia was so unproductive early in the season that the team briefly brought up Daniel Vogelbach to platoon at the position.

— ryan divish, The Seattle Times, "Since hitting rock bottom in Boston, the Mariners have surged at the plate and in the standings," 26 June 2017
Spending time just to restore status quo is really unproductive, and all the money in the world can't compensate the loss of time.

— david kravets, Ars Technica, "Grand Theft Auto modding project folds following Take-Two’s demands [Update]," 15 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unproductive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unproductive

circa 1676

unproductive Synonyms

Synonyms

bony (also boney), dead, desolate, hardscrabble, impoverished, infertile, poor, stark, unfertile, barren, waste

Antonyms

fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich

Related Words

bleak, inhospitable, lifeless; uncultivable, untillable; bankrupted, consumed, debilitated, depleted, diminished, drained, dried-up, enfeebled, exhausted, expended, lessened, reduced, spent, used up; arid, desert, droughty, dry, rainless, sere (also sear), thirsty, waterless; baked, dehydrated, parched, sunbaked

Near Antonyms

arable, tillable; green, sylvan, verdant

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unproductive

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