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.
Bear in mind that knowledge about your genetic risks can be counterproductive, leading to excessive worrying for years.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
Or worse, could it be counterproductive, sending would-be e-bikers zooming to the hills in their SUVs?
From Slate • May 15, 2026
They highlight that restrictive zoning is largely to blame for underproduction relative to job growth and concur that rent control is counterproductive as it discourages the addition of supply, even with strong demand.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
Only four people have gone to prison for failing to pay council tax since 2020, it said, so highlighting the sanction was counterproductive when writing to those who had not been able to pay.
From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026
Eisman was now about to become noticeably more negatively disposed, in ways that, from the point of view of his employer, were financially counterproductive.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
