unproductive

adjective

un·​pro·​duc·​tive ˌən-prə-ˈdək-tiv How to pronounce unproductive (audio)
-prō-
: not effective in bringing something about : not yielding results, benefits, or profits : not productive
unproductive meetings
unproductive strategies
unproductive workers

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
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.
Play can look silly or unproductive — that's the point. Cas Holman, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025 An undisciplined, unproductive outing against the Jets in London at least momentarily provided reason to hit the pause button. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025 Very cold temperatures, heavy snow or ice, pests, and diseases can leave you with damaged or unproductive plants the next year. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025 Over the years, despite concerns about her behavior and her parents’ pleas to get help, Alice’s brushes with health-care professionals are unproductive until she is institutionalized. Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unproductive

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unproductive was circa 1676

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unproductive. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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