NONPRODUCTIVE Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

nonproductive

adjective

Definition of nonproductive

as in worthless

Related Words

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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 nonproductive North Dakota adopted a bill last year requiring a legislative council to study the feasibility of using nonproductive wells to generate geothermal power. — Maria Gallucci, Wired News, 16 May 2026 Returning nonproductive properties to the tax rolls, creating jobs and boosting the quality of life are only some of the benefits of redeveloping troubled properties. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026 Pruning also thins nonproductive stems, allowing light to reach the interior of the tree and ripen the fruit. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025 The key is refusing to engage in circular or baiting conversations, instead setting boundaries and exiting nonproductive conversations. — Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025 Course of trade in the oil industry often leaves the public on the hook for nonproductive well cleanup costs, including capping. — Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonproductive

Adjective

Second, the hacker had ignored valuable data on Hugging Face’s servers in search of worthless answers to a test.

— Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
On top of that, his degree from a for-profit college - which was later sued over alleged deception - seemed worthless.

— Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 30 July 2026

Definition of worthless

Adjective

Traditional banks have long neglected small businesses, especially solopreneurs, viewing them as unprofitable and making basic services like account opening cumbersome.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
According to the Journal, Nvidia lending its backing to OpenAI would enable the developer to raise debt at more favorable terms because Nvidia's financial position is much better than that of unprofitable OpenAI.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 July 2026

Definition of unprofitable

Adjective

In contrast, spending time involves unproductive activities, confusing busyness with progress.

— Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Desertification is the severe degradation of fertile drylands into unproductive, desert-like terrain, stripping the soil of its vegetation, nutrients, and agricultural capability.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Definition of unproductive

Adjective

Although any hopes of an onscreen reunion might be pointless, the cast of Home Improvement appears to be keeping close in real life.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 July 2026
And to have another female voice that isn’t my offspring doing it would’ve been pointless.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

Definition of pointless

Adjective

As children, Vi and Jinx lose their parents in an abortive revolution in Zaun, and years later find themselves on opposite sides of an unfolding power struggle between the two city-states.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
Those forces have remained in the country, albeit now with more direct control from the Kremlin (after Wagner’s bombastic chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led an abortive coup against Moscow and paid the ultimate price for it).

— Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026

Definition of abortive

Adjective

On Saturday, Durant reaffirmed his stance that the question of his and other superstars’ effort was an unavailing narrative to explore every February.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
The position advanced by the states is legally unavailing as a matter of longstanding and well-established law.

— WSJ, WSJ, 25 July 2018

Definition of unavailing

Browse Nearby Words

nonproblems

nonproductive

nonprofessional

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“Nonproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonproductive. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of nonproductive

adjective

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