as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
harsh disciplinary measures that prove to be counterproductive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of counterproductive
If that makes any sense — because people use conspiracy theories as the reason to validate irrational and sometimes very counterproductive behavior.
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Rachael Skinner, SPIN, 16 Dec. 2024
What used to feel impactful now feels out of touch and sometimes even counterproductive.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
For now, placing any kind of limits on cooperation with India may seem at best premature and at worst counterproductive.
—Manjari Chatterjee Miller, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2024
There's a difference between a healthy dose of daytime sleep and counterproductive excessive snoozing.
—Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterproductive 
Rachael Skinner, SPIN, 16 Dec. 2024
What used to feel impactful now feels out of touch and sometimes even counterproductive.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
For now, placing any kind of limits on cooperation with India may seem at best premature and at worst counterproductive.
—Manjari Chatterjee Miller, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2024
There's a difference between a healthy dose of daytime sleep and counterproductive excessive snoozing.
—Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterproductive
Adjective
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Trump attempted one last time to get a judge to block the report but was unsuccessful, NPR's Carrie Johnson tells Up First.Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
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An attempt was made to cut a lock to uniform storage, however was unsuccessful.City News Service, Orange County Register, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Currently there are far too many neighborhoods lacking access to public transportation altogether, and what does exist is often inefficient.Selvena Brooks-Powers, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025
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Bub Carrington continues to run the show in Washington but has been inefficient.Sam Vecenie, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Don't Apply Herbicide to a Dormant Lawn Herbicide, just like fertilizer, is ineffective on a dormant lawn.Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2025
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The scientists concluded that the cull was ineffective, and advised officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to focus on the cows, and leave the badger out of it.Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near counterproductive
Cite this Entry
“Counterproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterproductive. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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