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
That is where zone mapping comes in, offering a practical solution to common kitchen inefficiencies, such as unnecessary steps and clutter.
—
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
There's a lot of redundancies, duplication, as well as inefficiencies there.
—Domi Suskova, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
This was a decision based on Amazon’s disdain for inefficiency and having too many stakeholders involved in decision-making.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Frustrated by the industry’s inefficiencies, Huang graduated early and launched RoboParty in 2025.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
There's a lot of redundancies, duplication, as well as inefficiencies there.
—Domi Suskova, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
This was a decision based on Amazon’s disdain for inefficiency and having too many stakeholders involved in decision-making.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Frustrated by the industry’s inefficiencies, Huang graduated early and launched RoboParty in 2025.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficiency
Noun
-
The real Democratic failure lies not in having multiple candidates but in the party’s decades-long inability to develop Latino leaders as household names and frontrunners.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
At its core, narcissism is defined by a lack of empathy—not just occasional selfishness, but a consistent inability or unwillingness to step into someone else’s world.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her gleeful cruelty was matched only by the audacity of her incompetence.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In all probability, Noem’s fatal error was not infidelity, incompetence, or self-enrichment.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The District Attorney’s Office said a finding of incompetency does not dismiss the case or result in a defendant’s release, and that proceedings will resume if Mock is later deemed competent.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Maybe that data suggests incompetency in the sporting director role.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Some can be tucked away in Triple-A, at the ready to be called up due to inevitable injury or ineffectiveness.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In an era when teams typically carry more pitchers than position players, versatility allows managers to make favorable substitutions off the bench and to fill in the gaps in the event of injuries or ineffectiveness.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficiency. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
