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 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 Indeed, forcing a theoretical connection between credit buyers and sellers could induce inefficiencies in the name of sustainability score-maxxing. — Mike Feibus, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 Becerra also said those cuts could also be addressed by cutting wasteful spending, overbilling and other inefficiencies in the healthcare system. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inefficiency

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficiency

Noun

The inability to do so has cost Engelbert during her latter years.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Venezuela’s problem has not been a shortage of economists capable of designing sophisticated monetary and fiscal regimes, but its inability to follow strict rules in good times and bad.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of inability

Noun

The Reds demonstrate their incompetence once again by allowing Reacher and Green to disarm them and start swinging.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Timidity dissolves into might, selfishness gives place to broad-reaching love, incompetence is replaced with obedience to God’s perfect direction.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of incompetence

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

The biggest discrepancy for Cruz this season compared to his breakout 2025 campaign is the ineffectiveness of his four-seamer.

— Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 26 Aug. 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 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of inefficiency

noun

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