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
-
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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There were two other good starts in there as well, but over his last three, he’s been inefficient at best and uncompetitive at worst.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
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Extracting plant dyes, whittling a spoon, making felt—these projects are inefficient and, Ginn argues, extremely satisfying.—
Sophia Stewart,
The Atlantic,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This process is largely ineffective at temperatures under 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit (10,000 degrees Celsius).—
Perri Thaler,
Space.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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That’s where the sandwich comes in — a mockery of the military presence, so obviously ineffective that it was supposed to make the whole situation look stupid.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterproductive. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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