Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

unproductive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of unproductive

1 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation

  • crop rotation had prevented the farmland from becoming unproductive
Synonyms of unproductive

barren, bony (also boney), dead, desolate, hardscrabble, impoverished, infertile, poor, stark, unfertile, waste
Words Related to unproductive

bleak, inhospitable, lifeless

uncultivable, untillable

bankrupted, consumed, debilitated, depleted, diminished, drained, dried-up, enfeebled, exhausted, expended, lessened, reduced, spent, used up

arid, desert, droughty, dry, rainless, sere (also sear), thirsty, waterless

baked, dehydrated, parched, sunbaked
Near Antonyms of unproductive

arable, tillable

green, sylvan, verdant
Antonyms of unproductive

fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich

2 producing no results

  • her attempts to write a novel have been unproductive
Synonyms of unproductive

abortive, barren, bootless, empty, fruitless, futile, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, otiose, profitless, unavailing, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, vain
Words Related to unproductive

hollow, idle, meaningless, pointless, valueless, worthless

hopeless, impossible, lost, no-win, unattainable

inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting

counterproductive
Phrases Synonymous with unproductive

in vain, no dice, not worth the candle, of no avail
Near Antonyms of unproductive

meaningful, worthwhile

adequate, sufficient

applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable (also useable), workable
Antonyms of unproductive

deadly, effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive, profitable, successful, virtuous

Learn More about unproductive

  1. See words that rhyme with unproductive Dictionary: Definition of unproductive Spanish Central: Translation of unproductive Nglish: Translation of unproductive for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up unproductive? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games