as in inability
the lack of ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy
The candidate blamed her opponent for the local government's inefficiency.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inefficiency
Newsom pushes back on inefficiency critics A major theme from Thursday’s budget presentation was Newsom’s pushing back against California’s critics who say that his administration is wasteful and inefficient.
—
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
While Oklahoma City deployed its 10th or 11th men at times, Redick stuck to eight- or nine-man rotations, hamstrung by inefficiencies across the bottom half of the roster.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Snell’s short start ultimately stemmed from inefficiency.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Whitt immediately identified shortcomings, inefficiencies and potential safety hazards.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
While Oklahoma City deployed its 10th or 11th men at times, Redick stuck to eight- or nine-man rotations, hamstrung by inefficiencies across the bottom half of the roster.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Snell’s short start ultimately stemmed from inefficiency.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Whitt immediately identified shortcomings, inefficiencies and potential safety hazards.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficiency
Noun
-
Unsurprisingly, Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry had his new head coach's back while trashing former coach Brian Kelly and his inability to relate to boosters or fans during his time in Baton Rouge.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
Andrews’s essay comes to the defense of former Harvard President Larry Summers, who resigned under pressure in 2006 after arguing that women might be underrepresented in the hard sciences because of their innate lack of interest in those fields and their inability to perform at the highest levels.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Workers resisted him with false reports of incompetence, machine sabotage, and especially social pressure—something that worked on new recruits but not on Taylor himself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
-
During Walker’s oral exams, Stoner exposes his incompetence.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Federal agents have descended upon the home of Cindy Rodriguez Singh, the North Texas mom who was recently sent to a state hospital after an incompetency ruling in the murder of her young son.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
The longer the delay, the more the system risks turning temporary incompetency into long-term confinement.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Slot’s system relies heavily on wingers, but the ineffectiveness of both Salah and Cody Gakpo has been a real issue.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Delaying this only demonstrates the organization’s ineffectiveness in today’s NBA.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficiency. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
