as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
inefficient measures to solve the problem of teenage smoking
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Recent Examples of inefficient
An interface that gives the user no choices but still must be interacted with is maximally inefficient because the user must do some non-zero amount of work to communicate absolutely no information.
—
Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Often in government, the first instinct is to avoid disrupting systems even if something is cumbersome or inefficient, Ramos said, but the technology can make government information more accessible and easier to understand.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Chad Wackerman, a drummer and teacher, believes this change in technique —favoring the biceps over the wrist to create a louder sound — is to blame for an inefficient playing style.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Neural networks are surprisingly inefficient learners and contain a lot of redundant information, says Mugel, which leaves a lot of room for optimization.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Often in government, the first instinct is to avoid disrupting systems even if something is cumbersome or inefficient, Ramos said, but the technology can make government information more accessible and easier to understand.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Chad Wackerman, a drummer and teacher, believes this change in technique —favoring the biceps over the wrist to create a louder sound — is to blame for an inefficient playing style.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Neural networks are surprisingly inefficient learners and contain a lot of redundant information, says Mugel, which leaves a lot of room for optimization.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficient
Adjective
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While Hadden-Paton was unsuccessful in keeping his dapper suit, his costar, Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, confessed to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live!—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out for comment but was unsuccessful.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In turn, the Koch brothers supported climate denial think tanks, while Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s Fox News nightly broadcasts worked overtime to convince Americans that both climate change and COVID-19 were hoaxes or that vaccines were ineffective or unsafe.—
Michael E. Mann,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
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According to a report sponsored by AWS, this restrictive approach proved both ineffective and counterproductive.—
Melody Brue,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Today’s resolution is yet another counterproductive gesture that only rewards Hamas, drags out the war and undercuts the very diplomatic efforts to free the hostages and end the suffering in Gaza.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Just cutting the reeds is counterproductive.—
Steven Franck,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inefficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficient. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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