counterproductive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of counterproductive
First recorded in 1960–65; counter- + productive
Explanation
Something that does the opposite of what you intend is counterproductive. Staying up all night to study for that history test will be counterproductive — you'll be so tired that you won't remember any of the information you reviewed. Putting off your homework until tomorrow may seem like a good strategy now, but it may be counterproductive if you have to rush to get it done. On a larger scale, when governments give small tax breaks in an attempt to stimulate the economy, it's often counterproductive, since people may decide to save that extra money instead of spending it. Counterproductive things don't do what you think they will — in fact, they make it much harder to achieve your goals.
Vocabulary lists containing counterproductive
Nothing But the Truth
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 3
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Employment, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The cost to the employers - it's a bit of a stealth tax on businesses, what does that mean long term? Does that mean they'll move out of Cardiff, it could be counterproductive," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
"His reaction, for someone who's normally pretty canny when it comes to the media, is extraordinarily counterproductive," said Bale.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
And that remains his position, his representative said: Carvalho wants to avoid counterproductive acrimony.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
Or worse, could it be counterproductive, sending would-be e-bikers zooming to the hills in their SUVs?
From Slate ● May 15, 2026
The reason behind all of those seemingly counterproductive features is that the typewriters of 1873 jammed if adjacent keys were struck in quick succession, so that manufacturers had to slow down typists.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
