counterproductive

adjective

ˌkau̇n-tər-prə-ˈdək-tiv How to pronounce counterproductive (audio)
Definition of counterproductivenext
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result harsh disciplinary measures that prove to be counterproductive

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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 counterproductive Effective strategies exist, and using alcohol or cannabis to sleep is counterproductive. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026 Some even warned that the ban could prove counterproductive for US robotics efforts to develop humanoid robots. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026 The media rights pooling provisions, which are intended to help women’s and Olympic sports, are seen as financially counterproductive for the SEC, which shared over $1 billion with its members in fiscal year 2025, and the Big Ten. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 July 2026 OpenAI’s rogue-agent incident showed how government intervention was counterproductive to cyberdefense. — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterproductive
  1. unsuccessful
  2. inefficient
  3. ineffective
Adjective
  • That ability to learn may ultimately separate successful defenders from unsuccessful ones.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The five unsuccessful trials shared a condition of the test rig rather than indicating a failure of the recovery logic.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Failing to do so can make for a clunky, inefficient shift and wear down components over time.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Most clinic patients do not speak English, and caring for them via translation is challenging and inefficient.
    — Benjamin I. Lee, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of inefficient
Adjective
  • That was less about Payne and more about the ineffective passing game.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
  • But one early research study published in June shows the ban, which took effect in December 2025, has been ineffective.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of ineffective

Browse Nearby Words

counterpoising
counterproductive
counterproposal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterproductive. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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