as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
harsh disciplinary measures that prove to be counterproductive
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Recent Examples of counterproductive
Don’t run through fatigue: Pushing past your current endurance level may be tempting, but this is counterproductive.
—
Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 18 July 2025
Yet opting not to hire young workers could be counterproductive for building a strong future workforce.
—Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
But, importantly, the drive to onshore manufacturing may be counterproductive: Doing so carelessly will significantly increase chip costs.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 13 July 2025
While the videos are offensive, and there’s nothing to be said in defense of using such language, some have called the backlash counterproductive, especially considering the show’s history of bullying behavior by fans.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterproductive
Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 18 July 2025
Yet opting not to hire young workers could be counterproductive for building a strong future workforce.
—Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
But, importantly, the drive to onshore manufacturing may be counterproductive: Doing so carelessly will significantly increase chip costs.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 13 July 2025
While the videos are offensive, and there’s nothing to be said in defense of using such language, some have called the backlash counterproductive, especially considering the show’s history of bullying behavior by fans.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterproductive
Adjective
-
As in the first case, life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
18 Aug. 2025
-
According to the coroner, the umbilical cord was not cut and an attempt to deliver the placenta at an unknown time the next morning was unsuccessful.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on windmills on Wednesday, again calling the renewable energy source inefficient and expensive, just a day after his administration unveiled new tariffs on wind turbines.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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Much of the current focus and available funding is directed at deploying existing, often inefficient, technologies through subsidies and large-scale infrastructure projects.—
Rob van Straten,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Both are injured right now, and Montas has been ineffective when healthy.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Pans with iron or steel in their bases work best; induction heating is ineffective with all-aluminum utensils.—
Ian Baker
August 26,
New Atlas,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterproductive. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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