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
Over the years, despite concerns about her behavior and her parents’ pleas to get help, Alice’s brushes with health-care professionals are unproductive until she is institutionalized.
—
Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025
On many of Seattle’s other unproductive runs, the operation just looks out of sync.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
On the other hand, Pribula often looked unsure of himself in the pocket, which led to unproductive passing plays.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, youth unemployment recently hit almost 19%, forcing authorities to keep unproductive firms running to avoid unrest.
—semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025
On many of Seattle’s other unproductive runs, the operation just looks out of sync.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
On the other hand, Pribula often looked unsure of himself in the pocket, which led to unproductive passing plays.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, youth unemployment recently hit almost 19%, forcing authorities to keep unproductive firms running to avoid unrest.
—semafor.com, 22 Sep. 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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Barkan’s was one of several unsuccessful progressive campaigns Mamdani worked on before getting a job as a foreclosure prevention counselor at a nonprofit.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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There have been a handful of topping bids this year, including an unsuccessful attempt by hedge fund Alden Global to beat out Hearst in its deal for the Dallas Morning News.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Bir Tawil, for instance — a desolate parcel of desert on the Egyptian-Sudanese border.—
Richard Collett,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
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To find the killer, Sherlock Holmes and Watson will have to brave desolate moors before a family curse dooms the newest heirs.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, over on the blanket, Hine and Lemmon begin a rather futile attempt to teach the rest of us backgammon.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
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Understanding each other is futile.—
Jake Coyle,
Boston Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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 Nov. 2025.
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