1
as in creative
having a role in deciding something's final form
contributed several productive ideas to the project
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prolific
producing abundantly
overfishing has depleted the stock of fish in these waters, which were once so productive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in efficient
producing or capable of producing a desired result
panicking during a crisis is not productive behavior
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of productive
Unsurprisingly, given how productive Williams has been over the course of his seven-year career, there were other suitors who were close to acquiring Williams before he was ultimately dealt to Dallas.
—
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
That’s a solid dramatic question, but one that might’ve been more productive as an inciting incident, as too much of this low-budget drama shuffles around subjects that demand incisive action in 2025, effectively creating a subtle irony that undermines the film’s own point.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2025
The decades following their discovery were among the most productive and exciting in the history of science.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The best defense against deforestation is to make the land around forests productive and profitable by offering farmers viable alternatives to cutting them down.
—Kaveh Zahedi, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for productive
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
That’s a solid dramatic question, but one that might’ve been more productive as an inciting incident, as too much of this low-budget drama shuffles around subjects that demand incisive action in 2025, effectively creating a subtle irony that undermines the film’s own point.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2025
The decades following their discovery were among the most productive and exciting in the history of science.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The best defense against deforestation is to make the land around forests productive and profitable by offering farmers viable alternatives to cutting them down.
—Kaveh Zahedi, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for productive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for productive
Adjective
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Rich Little Brokegirls founder Kimberly Bizu sat down with creator and corporate strategist Jodie Taylor, discussing what women of color navigating corporate spaces and creative careers need to know.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
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Anyone vaguely near the aesthetic gets christened it by fans, including Bassvictim, who were always funnier and more creative than the other modern electroclash revivalists.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Alongside his prolific career, Nakadai founded the Mumeijuku acting school in 1975, the alumni of which included Koji Yakusho, who won best actor in Cannes in 2023 for his performance in Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 Nov. 2025
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Brody and Joyce Choi will oversee the project at Imagine, the prolific banner that recently made Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt and Ron Howard’s Eden.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As global demand for cleaner and more efficient energy sources intensifies, solar power remains one of the most promising solutions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
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The threat of more efficient, devaluing production models to the livelihoods of artisans is historically clear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Automation can go in either of these directions; that’s why the task of the left is to create social and cultural conditions in which the benign and constructive aspects of technology and automation are primary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Or perhaps a constructive metaphor is better—a social order starts to creak into place.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Reservoirs supplying Tehran and other urban centers have dropped to critically low levels, while agricultural production in the nation’s most fertile regions is collapsing, threatening food security and rural livelihoods.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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For instance, the Bangladesh delta, one of the most fertile and densely populated areas in the world, is already experiencing problems, including salinity intrusion, rising sea levels and the loss of arable land.—
Pintu Kumar Mahla,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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What’s more, what makes Allen such a reliable and effective target is his ability to come through with a catch on the most important downs.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Magic shot 31 free throws in the game to Boston’s 16, with Brown — highly effective at drawing contact on drives and pull-ups this season — getting to the line just twice.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently projected Suárez would sign a massive five-year, $135 million deal in free agency this winter, which would almost certainly be too rich for the Phillies' liking.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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The pay package for Musk, already the world's richest person, consists of 12 tranches of shares to be granted if Tesla hits certain milestones over the next decade.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Some of these meetings have been fruitful for Taiwan.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Nov. 2025
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One of their most fruitful partnerships has been with Ninja Gaiden and Dynasty Warriors publisher, Koei Tecmo, on a string of Zelda spin-offs called Hyrule Warriors.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Productive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/productive. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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