1
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
crop rotation had prevented the farmland from becoming unproductive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
her attempts to write a novel have been unproductive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unproductive
As Foot Locker’s fourth-quarter gross margin is anticipated to drop by 1,000 to 1,500 basis points, the company is looking to get rid of unproductive assets.
—
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
That means clearing out unproductive inventory, closing underperforming stores and rightsizing assets that don’t align with Dick’s go-forward vision for the Foot Locker business.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
The power play also had another unproductive day, going goalless in three extra-man opportunities.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2025
Economies that exclude women are unstable and unproductive.
—Nargis Habib, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
That means clearing out unproductive inventory, closing underperforming stores and rightsizing assets that don’t align with Dick’s go-forward vision for the Foot Locker business.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
The power play also had another unproductive day, going goalless in three extra-man opportunities.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2025
Economies that exclude women are unstable and unproductive.
—Nargis Habib, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unproductive
Adjective
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The barren Martian landscape stretches as far as the eye can see, interrupted only occasionally by the faintest of tire tracks marking the unpaved road on Libya’s north-south route.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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In the wild, macaques can traverse miles of novel terrain each week and socialize through grooming, but in many laboratories they are isolated in barren cages no bigger than a washing machine.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But her appeal was unsuccessful.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
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Industry lobbying unsuccessful to date Some advocates for the restaurant industry have been lobbying to change the way service fees are treated.—
Cheryl Winokur Munk,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Sátántangó’s desolate landscapes, dominated by mud, wind, and overcast skies, summoned a vision of earthly purgatory unrivaled in almost all of cinema.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
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Thanksgiving is desolate with freezing rain.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But the rally felt less threatening than futile.—
Zach Fisch,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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And this is asking that question, how are these people finding meaning and purpose in their lives that feel so oppressive and futile?—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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All the struggling, impoverished Californians who wish their lives were better?—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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The flood of people overwhelmed Bajo Chiquito, an impoverished community of 382 members of the Indigenous Emberá-Wounaan people.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Pattinson plays the character’s increasingly useless husband.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
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My French was useless—I was also considered a tourist by association.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Ministry of Environment blamed this year’s surge on a poor acorn harvest – which drove a similar spate of attacks in 2023.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Rather, the slow start (by Ovechkin’s standards) to this season seemed due more to poor puck luck.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Local laws and supplier audits The OECD has called on Shein to publish further public information about its compliance with France’s anti-waste law (AGEC), which aims to move businesses toward greater circularity.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
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This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unproductive. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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