inefficiency

Definition of inefficiencynext
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.

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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 The company is targeting $125 million in cost savings, which is almost certainly conservative given the scale of Masimo's inefficiency. Harvey Stober, CNBC, 16 July 2026 My first priority is making sure Orange County is using existing taxpayer dollars effectively by improving performance, eliminating inefficiencies, and pursuing every available state and federal funding opportunity. Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 Billions of dollars are lost every year in improper payments and bureaucratic inefficiency. Joseph "joe" Kaufman, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026 Those commencement boos came from a young generation that has watched AI reframe entry-level work as inefficiency, seen generative content flood the visual landscape, and built their own creative identities through friction and craft. Reid Litman, Fortune, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficiency
Noun
  • Yet despite the faction’s inability to win in purple or red districts, democratic socialists enjoy a net favorability of 17 points among Democratic voters nationwide, compared with just 4 points for Democratic members of Congress.
    James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • That's big news, as one of McCray's biggest problems has been his inability to match up physically against some of the tackles in the SEC.
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • Was the chaos in El Paso a matter of incompetence, impossible-to-meet deadlines, or something else entirely?
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Both teams are eliminated from the tournament for incompetence.
    Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Those forms are not pertinent to the finding of incompetency and are therefore subject to the open records law, Ziegler and Bradley wrote.
    Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • But Messi’s lack of influence owed less to his own ineffectiveness than to Spain’s dominance, which starved him of the ball, leaving him to feed off scraps.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The commission has been plagued by partisan infighting and ineffectiveness, as well as chronic vacancies and a lack of funding.
    Jen Fifield, ProPublica, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficiency. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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