INEFFICIENT Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

inefficient

adjective

ˌi-nə-ˈfi-shənt

Definition of inefficient

as in unsuccessful

not producing the desired result inefficient measures to solve the problem of teenage smoking

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of inefficient By any objective standard, that technology was outdated, labor-intensive, imprecise, and inefficient. — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026 In February, the IMF separately warned that Beijing’s state subsidies were producing inefficient firms, with total subsidies amounting to some 4% of GDP. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Yet, plainly, conducting store-to-store checks of card readers is inefficient. — Eli Hager, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026 Leaky roofs, inefficient heating and deteriorating buildings — those are just a few of the improvements that need to be made within Lodi schools. — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inefficient

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficient

Adjective

Dean Riley, 62, was pronounced dead at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise after lifesaving measures were unsuccessful, according to the coroner’s office.

— Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
While not all lawsuits filed against small businesses are valid, even an unsuccessful lawsuit can cause major business disruptions and result in costly legal fees.

— Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of unsuccessful

Adjective

Fixing the problem Flexible substrates have uneven surface roughness and varying hydroxyl-group densities, making standard large-area printing techniques ineffective.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
Fette, a freshman seeing his first significant game action, was Arizona State’s third quarterback of the game, replacing an injured Mikey Keene and an ineffective Cutter Boley.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of ineffective

Adjective

But their fervor ironically winds up being counterproductive, yielding a jumbled tonal mess that feels deadly serious one moment and like parody the next.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
The lesson is not to abandon the region but to rethink an approach that has become both too costly and counterproductive.

— Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of counterproductive

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inefficiency

inefficient

inefficiently

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“Inefficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficient. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of inefficient

adjective

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