INEFFICIENCY Synonyms: 21 Similar and Opposite Words

inefficiency

noun

Definition of inefficiency

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 This opportunity should be used to create powerful structures—not to solidify existing inefficiencies or build additional bureaucracy and double structures, the joint appeal read. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 This celestial season puts a spotlight on inefficiencies and where our expectations aren’t necessarily realistic. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 The public has put much of the blame on the French justice system, which has been accused of slow processing times and inefficiency. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026 But they’re plagued by high costs, inefficiencies, commercial setbacks, struggling carbon markets, and political headwinds in the United States. — Emily Waltz, IEEE Spectrum, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inefficiency

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficiency

Noun

The constant delay-of-game calls, false starts and inability to get lined up are a special level of alarming for a quarterback who entered the NFL 10 years ago.

— Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Among the many glaring issues coming out of the opener, the offense’s inability to sustain drives was particularly galling.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of inability

Noun

Court records show DeFoor has a history of criminal cases involving findings of mental incompetency.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of incompetency

Noun

Part of the problem was ineffectiveness on first down that forced the Eagles to play behind the sticks.

— Zach Berman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The states argue that Meta withheld relevant information from users and parents, who might have benefited from knowing the ineffectiveness of the feature and others like it, constituting a violation of consumer protection laws.

— John Ruwitch, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of ineffectiveness

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inefficacy

inefficiency

inefficient

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“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficiency. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of inefficiency

noun

Example Sentences

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