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Synonyms

unproductive

British  
/ ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv /

adjective

  1. (often foll by of) not productive of (anything)

  2. not producing goods and services with exchange value

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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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.

See Examples For:

As more cells enter this unproductive state, fewer remain available to carry out the liver's normal work.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026

Indonesia's president mulled the possibility of a special court on Friday to investigate "unproductive" boards reporting "made up" profits, as he vowed to close 750 state-owned enterprises by year end.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

“Regret becomes unproductive when it turns into repetitive rumination, harsh self-judgment or the belief that the past has permanently determined the future,” she says.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

The debate about AI and jobs has become exhausting and largely unproductive, oscillating between “AI will take all jobs” and “AI will create more jobs than it destroys.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

But he knew he was wrong to think this way, and it was unproductive in any case.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

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