nonproductive

adjective

Definition of nonproductivenext
as in worthless

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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
  1. worthless
  2. unprofitable
  3. unproductive
  4. unsuccessful
  5. pointless
  6. useless
  7. abortive
  8. unavailing
Adjective
  • Matter is never worthless, but assigning it a price does not necessarily make its environmental and social costs disappear.
    — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Fraud tools aren’t worthless, but too many merchants discover their limitations the hard way.
    — Wayne Hamilton, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of worthless
Adjective
  • Its newer locations in the Nashville suburb of Franklin as well as Charleston, South Carolina, each broke even during their first months, and the company said none of the three has posted an unprofitable month since stabilizing.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Ranching is still difficult and often unprofitable work, especially for family operations.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of unprofitable
Adjective
  • So being an idea-creation machine can be fun but unproductive.
    — Mohan Nair, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The unit has been unproductive defending the run and bitten hard by the injury bug.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of unproductive
Adjective
  • Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives have been unsuccessful.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other searches to find PBHs near and far, however, have so far been unsuccessful.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Storming a podium at a meeting of academics is a pointless performative act.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The behaviors run the full range, from tiny tweaks like stashing the phone across the room, killing pointless notifications and blocking off screen-free stretches, all the way to full-day commitments to unplug.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of pointless
Adjective
  • People tend to think of waste as trash, sewage, slag, manure and other seemingly useless or disgusting substances.
    — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Refuse outright, and the tool is useless to whoever authorizes it.
    — Ethan Pham, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • Smith’s work on Good Will Hunting came immediately after an intervention planned by some friends — including Bolme, Garry, and Gust — that ended in an abortive rehab stint.
    — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Primus could easily have been a blip, one of many abortive major label risks in a decade when the industry was swimming in cash.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 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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Cite this Entry

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

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