1
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
crop rotation had prevented the farmland from becoming unproductive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
her attempts to write a novel have been unproductive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unproductive
This requires understanding people's natural defensive reactions when things go wrong and encouraging problem-solving rather than unproductive blame.
—
Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Markus suggested the arrangement is especially important because she has been incarcerated for several years, rendering surprise questions unproductive.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 30 July 2025
Seven of the 13 unproductive games this month have been against two of the best pitching staffs in baseball – the Houston Astros and Brewers.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 July 2025
The Giants could use him as a rental option at first base if Devers is unwilling or unproductive at the position.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Markus suggested the arrangement is especially important because she has been incarcerated for several years, rendering surprise questions unproductive.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 30 July 2025
Seven of the 13 unproductive games this month have been against two of the best pitching staffs in baseball – the Houston Astros and Brewers.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 July 2025
The Giants could use him as a rental option at first base if Devers is unwilling or unproductive at the position.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unproductive
Adjective
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For the visual effects supervisors who were tasked with bringing the arctic horrors to life, their challenge was adding depth and value to a barren landscape.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
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Deep in the interior lies Askja, a vast volcanic caldera surrounded by a barren lava desert.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As in the first case, life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
18 Aug. 2025
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Although previous appeals have been unsuccessful, Arias has consistently expressed a desire to overturn her conviction.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Exploring Indonesia—an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands—over a decade has led me to some truly jaw-dropping beaches, some gloriously desolate, others vibrantly alive with international travelers, expats, and locals.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, two days before the double murder, a 21-year-old man was shot and wounded around 3:30 a.m. on the same desolate block, which is about a mile and a half from where Sanchez was killed, cops said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Bodyguard of Lies, an investigation into the United States’ bloody, costly, and ultimately futile war in Afghanistan, will open theatrically for a limited run in New York on September 12, before bowing on the Paramount+ platform on Sept. 23.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 Aug. 2025
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But given the likely futile nature of the Braves' remaining games at that point, he might unofficially be done for the year.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Having two of the three most impoverished cities, especially when those cities are experiencing booming population growth, is its own kind of economic miracle, if an ignominious one.—
Kathryn Anne Edwards,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
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The eye-popping dollar figures in the statements contrast with everything else happening on an impoverished island, where people spend much of their time without electricity and many still depend on meager food rations to survive.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Likewise, even the best dashboard is useless if your team doesn't use it.—
Ramachander Rao Thallada,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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One newspaper here calling the summit, sickening, shameful, and, in the end, useless.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, over-saturating with water is a poor choice for these floors.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
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Specifically, poor capital allocation decisions have destroyed significant value.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2022
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Fanning out like urban guerrillas through Paris’ darkened streets well after midnight, the anti-waste activists shinny up walls and drain pipes, reaching for switches to turn off the lights. Click.—
The Christian Science Monitor,
The Christian Science Monitor,
3 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unproductive. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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