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
The Heat’s offense, as a whole, has been inefficient recently after a hot start to the season.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, Hegseth sent a memo to senior Pentagon leadership asking for the Army to restructure its acquisition systems and close redundant and inefficient programs.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
At the sprawling campus, Blue Diamond’s longtime headquarters, many of the buildings are aging, and their layout is inefficient, said Jeff Hatfield, senior vice president of manufacturing.
—Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Keeping these efforts at the national level is financially and strategically inefficient.
—Douglas Rediker, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, Hegseth sent a memo to senior Pentagon leadership asking for the Army to restructure its acquisition systems and close redundant and inefficient programs.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
At the sprawling campus, Blue Diamond’s longtime headquarters, many of the buildings are aging, and their layout is inefficient, said Jeff Hatfield, senior vice president of manufacturing.
—Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Keeping these efforts at the national level is financially and strategically inefficient.
—Douglas Rediker, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficient
Adjective
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Despite several attempts to identify the man, officials were unsuccessful.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
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Emilio’s father then drove around the area to find his son, but was unsuccessful, per the database.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The suspect then allegedly stepped towards the officers with the weapon, and officers deployed a Taser and a firearm at the same time, but the Taser was ineffective.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Combined with sensational media coverage and advocacy by special interests, such studies have led to ineffective or even harmful national health policies.—
Stephen B. Soumerai,
STAT,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Short-term fixes alone are unlikely to address the root causes of affordability and, if misguided, could even prove counterproductive.—
Gene Ludwig,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Swart warned the street unrest is actively counterproductive.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inefficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficient. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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