unproductive

adjective

un·​pro·​duc·​tive ˌən-prə-ˈdək-tiv 

-prō-

: not effective in bringing something about : not yielding results, benefits, or profits : not productive

unproductive meetings

unproductive strategies

unproductive workers

Synonyms

• barren
• bony
• boney
• dead
• desolate
• hardscrabble
• impoverished
• infertile
• poor
• stark
• unfertile
• waste

Examples of unproductive in a Sentence

crop rotation had prevented the farmland from becoming unproductive

her attempts to write a novel have been unproductive

Recent Examples on the Web

What's New Experts are warning of a looming increase in grocery prices as agricultural soil becomes increasingly unproductive. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

The question remains: how much of this unproductive drama could have been avoided if both the CEO and the board had focused more on their working relationship? CEO: C-suite news, analysis, and advice for top decision makers right to your inbox. —Harry Kraemer, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Small, consistent progress is better than burning yourself out with long, unproductive stretches. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Crucial tools, especially for galvanizing private capital, have remained untapped in a historically unproductive Congress. —Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above