as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
harsh disciplinary measures that prove to be counterproductive
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterproductive
Trump’s track record on promoting peace aside, experts cautioned that his intense efforts to obtain the peace prize are likely counterproductive.
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Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Others—such as an eagerness to engage someone in combat—work in the gym, ring, and battlefield but become counterproductive and even destructive outside of those contexts.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Once again, the process is likely to be costly, counterproductive and completely unnecessary.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
An argument, on the other hand, is counterproductive.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterproductive
Adjective
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But her appeal was unsuccessful.—
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Industry lobbying unsuccessful to date Some advocates for the restaurant industry have been lobbying to change the way service fees are treated.—
Adjective
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Willingly taking back an inefficient contract from a contender, even if that contract has term involved, is just a more extreme application of this basic logic.—
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In processes like this, any loss of carbon as carbon dioxide is a key sign that the underlying process is inefficient.—
Adjective
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The suspect then allegedly stepped towards the officers with the weapon, and officers deployed a Taser and a firearm at the same time, but the Taser was ineffective.—
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Combined with sensational media coverage and advocacy by special interests, such studies have led to ineffective or even harmful national health policies.—
Cite this Entry
“Counterproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterproductive. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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