as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
inefficient measures to solve the problem of teenage smoking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 inefficient
Without scale, businesses remain inefficient and uncompetitive.
—
Emeka Ajene, semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The festival celebrates the Milwaukee origins of the universal, yet inefficient QWERTY keyboard in worldwide use.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025
That said, what this seemingly outlandish tour expressed was a message about the inefficient, yet deeply endearing creations and art that are born when people try to make things through trial and error, or struggle to accomplish something — and ultimately about how people live.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2025
As a result, boards have been left to rely on attorneys for every statutory question, a costly and inefficient approach that still leaves liability squarely on the shoulders of volunteer board members.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Emeka Ajene, semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The festival celebrates the Milwaukee origins of the universal, yet inefficient QWERTY keyboard in worldwide use.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025
That said, what this seemingly outlandish tour expressed was a message about the inefficient, yet deeply endearing creations and art that are born when people try to make things through trial and error, or struggle to accomplish something — and ultimately about how people live.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2025
As a result, boards have been left to rely on attorneys for every statutory question, a costly and inefficient approach that still leaves liability squarely on the shoulders of volunteer board members.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficient
Adjective
-
The pose Harris struck and held through her unsuccessful 2024 campaign for the White House is called the good soldier.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Now, after years of mostly unsuccessful efforts to eliminate windows from cabins, one luxury jet maker appears to be on the verge of doing just that.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
What’s at stake here is whether states should endorse practices that every major medical and mental-health association has already disavowed as dangerous and ineffective.—
Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Miller and Panarin ineffective The Rangers entered opening night with their full ensemble, but the health of their two top forwards came down to the wire.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Others—such as an eagerness to engage someone in combat—work in the gym, ring, and battlefield but become counterproductive and even destructive outside of those contexts.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Once again, the process is likely to be costly, counterproductive and completely unnecessary.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inefficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficient. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share