as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
harsh disciplinary measures that prove to be counterproductive
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterproductive
As the name suggests, helicopter parenting is a style of parenting where parents hover over their kids and tend to micromanage them, which can be counterproductive if the goal is to raise autonomous kids.
—
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 24 Jan. 2025
There may be strategic reasons for having a diverse workforce, especially to reflect the firm’s customer base, but imposing government requirements on anything but merit and the interests of the company is counterproductive.
—Phillip Molnar, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
Allowing taxpayer dollars to subsidize sugary sodas, which offer zero nutritional value and contribute to costly health conditions, is counterproductive.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Plus, dwelling on perfect work-life balance can be counterproductive and cause undue anxiety, Harvard Medical School and MIT professor Jeff Karp told CNBC Make It last year.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for counterproductive 
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 24 Jan. 2025
There may be strategic reasons for having a diverse workforce, especially to reflect the firm’s customer base, but imposing government requirements on anything but merit and the interests of the company is counterproductive.
—Phillip Molnar, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
Allowing taxpayer dollars to subsidize sugary sodas, which offer zero nutritional value and contribute to costly health conditions, is counterproductive.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Plus, dwelling on perfect work-life balance can be counterproductive and cause undue anxiety, Harvard Medical School and MIT professor Jeff Karp told CNBC Make It last year.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for counterproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterproductive
Adjective
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The robber was unsuccessful in his attempt to take cash from the register and fled the scene.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2025
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Here’s an example from way back in 2016, which was actually unsuccessful, as Spain’s Iago Aspas bent the ball around him into the far corner.—
Michael Cox,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Kidwell, who bills himself a Christian conservative Republican, said the Trump administration is right to take aim in Washington at wasteful spending and inefficient bureaucracy.—
Alan Wooten | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
8 Feb. 2025
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The move caps nearly three weeks of efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle America’s foreign aid infrastructure, which the president and his advisers argue is bloated, inefficient, and out of step with American values.—
Jacob Turcotte,
The Christian Science Monitor,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Finally, decades of strict criminal responses to drug use have not only proven to be largely ineffective but also dramatically unfair.—
Michael Abrams,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Feb. 2025
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Some of them ended up being very effective (Anthony DeSclafani, Wood), and some of them were ineffective (Aaron Sanchez, Scott Kazmir).—
Grant Brisbee,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near counterproductive
Cite this Entry
“Counterproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterproductive. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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