counterproductive

[koun-ter-pruh-duhk-tiv]

adjective

1. thwarting the achievement of an intended goal; tending to defeat one's purpose.

   Living on credit while trying to save money is counterproductive.

counterproductive

/ ˌkaʊntəprəˈdʌktɪv /

adjective

1. tending to hinder or act against the achievement of an aim

Other Word Forms

• counterproductively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterproductive¹

First recorded in 1960–65; counter- + productive

Example Sentences

Because honestly, it is so counterproductive to allow influential voices to gaslight the country into forgetting the milestones it’s already crossed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The author contends that the emphasis on cruelty is counterproductive, noting that immigration enforcement didn’t face the same public opposition during previous administrations, including under Barack Obama despite high deportation rates.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While the mockery and memes may feel good as snickering payback and certainly stoke the Democratic base — boosting Newsom’s presidential hopes — Mahan suggested they are ultimately counterproductive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Among the agency’s most vocal critics, the push to beef up ICE is viewed as both dangerous and counterproductive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The high emotion and fury sweeping around the stadium, with Liverpool in the line of fire, was counterproductive as the hosts lacked any composure and measure, for all their domination of territory and possession.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• fruitless 
• futile 
• hopeless 
• idle 
• impractical 
• incompetent 
• ineffective 
• ineffectual 
• inoperative 
• meaningless 
• pointless 
• stupid 
• unproductive 
• unworkable 
• worthless