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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unproductive
This requires understanding people's natural defensive reactions when things go wrong and encouraging problem-solving rather than unproductive blame.
—
Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Markus suggested the arrangement is especially important because she has been incarcerated for several years, rendering surprise questions unproductive.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 30 July 2025
Seven of the 13 unproductive games this month have been against two of the best pitching staffs in baseball – the Houston Astros and Brewers.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 July 2025
The Giants could use him as a rental option at first base if Devers is unwilling or unproductive at the position.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Markus suggested the arrangement is especially important because she has been incarcerated for several years, rendering surprise questions unproductive.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 30 July 2025
Seven of the 13 unproductive games this month have been against two of the best pitching staffs in baseball – the Houston Astros and Brewers.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 July 2025
The Giants could use him as a rental option at first base if Devers is unwilling or unproductive at the position.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unproductive
Adjective
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What might more readily bring about a crisis of identity than the physical alteration of the body, the change from bearer of life to barren woman?—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
5 Aug. 2025
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Most of those barren years came before a current regime that has taken English cricket to new highs of attacking intent.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Neighbors attempted to rescue her but were unsuccessful, the sheriff’s office said.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images Loomer was unsuccessful in two separate congressional campaigns in Florida: one in 2020 and another in 2022.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In Namibia, Shipwreck Lodge in the desolate Skeleton Coast National Park and the secluded Hoanib Valley Camp are oases of luxury in otherworldly settings.—
Erina Pinar,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Aug. 2025
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The Emperor Titus attempted but failed to revive Pompeii and its sibling town Herculaneum soon after the catastrophe, leaving the desolate region largely abandoned until its rediscovery in 1748.—
Andrew Paul Aug 7,
Popular Science,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Attempts by deputies and paramedics to revive him were futile, and he was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
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Even finding enough people to fill all the jobs that would be needed would be futile, given the size of the workforce and the unemployment rate.—
Sheldon H. Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Having two of the three most impoverished cities, especially when those cities are experiencing booming population growth, is its own kind of economic miracle, if an ignominious one.—
Kathryn Anne Edwards,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
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The eye-popping dollar figures in the statements contrast with everything else happening on an impoverished island, where people spend much of their time without electricity and many still depend on meager food rations to survive.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Infrastructure is useless without operators who can manage it.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The deals typically provide revenue for the host community while enabling the solar industry to cover essentially useless land with solar panels rather than taking out-of-service farmland, open fields or similar space.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, over-saturating with water is a poor choice for these floors.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
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Specifically, poor capital allocation decisions have destroyed significant value.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2022
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Fanning out like urban guerrillas through Paris’ darkened streets well after midnight, the anti-waste activists shinny up walls and drain pipes, reaching for switches to turn off the lights. Click.—
The Christian Science Monitor,
The Christian Science Monitor,
3 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unproductive. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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