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 way their transistors are linked is inherently inefficient, so for a computer to save a meaningful amount of energy from reversible computing, it must be designed with low heat loss in mind from the beginning.
—
Matt Von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 30 May 2025
But banking on state governments to match the resources of the federal government—cash, expertise, largess—is an inefficient use of funds, as states in most cases have to stay in the black and cannot use debt for operations like a from-the-ground-up rebuild.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 29 May 2025
Flood irrigation is still used in some places, and continues to be proven inefficient when compared with modern techniques.
—Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
All year long the Red Sox have been plagued by inconsistent offense, inefficient pitching and inexplicable lapses on defense and on the base paths.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Matt Von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 30 May 2025
But banking on state governments to match the resources of the federal government—cash, expertise, largess—is an inefficient use of funds, as states in most cases have to stay in the black and cannot use debt for operations like a from-the-ground-up rebuild.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 29 May 2025
Flood irrigation is still used in some places, and continues to be proven inefficient when compared with modern techniques.
—Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
All year long the Red Sox have been plagued by inconsistent offense, inefficient pitching and inexplicable lapses on defense and on the base paths.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficient
Adjective
-
One game after the Oilers were unsuccessful in challenging that Bennett interfered with Stuart Skinner during the game’s first goal, Bennett toppled over Skinner after getting contact from Ekholm later in the period.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
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Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Surgery may be considered if nonsurgical methods are ineffective or the underlying cause indicates surgery is the most effective option.—
Sukaina Hasnie,
Verywell Health,
4 June 2025
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Not only would this produce a chaotic and likely ineffective U.S. foreign policy, but the administration could run into some serious trouble with contingency planning.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Still, Marles suggested the Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies were counterproductive.—
Tara Copp,
Chicago Tribune,
31 May 2025
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At times of economic, social and planetary upheaval, best practice is counterproductive.—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inefficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficient. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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