1
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
crop rotation had prevented the farmland from becoming unproductive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
her attempts to write a novel have been unproductive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of unproductive
Aside from this Congress, the previously most unproductive sessions were the 112th and 113th — in which Republicans controlled the House and clashed bitterly with President Obama.
—
Andrew Solender, Axios, 30 Dec. 2024
Democrats were beside themselves, seeing this as a fitting coda after one of the most unproductive congressional sessions in modern times.
—Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024
And so the voices that entered this discussion initially were really unproductive voices.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 16 Dec. 2024
Research from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin shows that individuals who can effectively disengage from unproductive goals and redirect their energy to alternative goals exhibit higher levels of psychological well-being.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unproductive 
Andrew Solender, Axios, 30 Dec. 2024
Democrats were beside themselves, seeing this as a fitting coda after one of the most unproductive congressional sessions in modern times.
—Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024
And so the voices that entered this discussion initially were really unproductive voices.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 16 Dec. 2024
Research from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin shows that individuals who can effectively disengage from unproductive goals and redirect their energy to alternative goals exhibit higher levels of psychological well-being.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unproductive
Adjective
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California officials are proposing making looting during a local emergency a felony, as wildfires continue to blaze through parts of their state, leaving barren neighborhoods susceptible to such crime.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
15 Jan. 2025
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In one glance, an observer can see the barren, airless lunar surface and a cold, desert planet that once harbored rivers, lakes, and potentially life, all while standing on our own planet, an oasis in the cosmos.—
Stephen Clark,
Ars Technica,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Trump attempted one last time to get a judge to block the report but was unsuccessful, NPR's Carrie Johnson tells Up First.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
14 Jan. 2025
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An attempt was made to cut a lock to uniform storage, however was unsuccessful.—
City News Service,
Orange County Register,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Compared to the desolate, almost alien landscape of South Dakota, the North Dakota badlands are flush with vibrant vegetation: Rocky Mountain juniper woodlands, cottonwoods that thrive in the Little Missouri River basin, and sunflowers, asters, and rabbitbrush that bloom in the late summer months.—
Erica Zazo,
Outside Online,
9 Jan. 2025
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After the twinkling lights of the holiday season have been packed away, winter can feel downright dull and desolate, especially for families with energetic kids trapped inside by the cold.—
Erica Jackson Curran,
Parents,
25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In my experience, even attempting to get a price estimate beforehand is often futile.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
-
Unnecessary pesticides are costly and often futile, and hey may kill beneficial insects and plants.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Mason Fung’s impoverished young defendant Ma Ka Kit is arrested after receiving a package of narcotics from overseas.—
James Marsh,
Deadline,
10 Jan. 2025
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Since Sudan’s civil war drove a surge of refugees to Egypt starting in 2023, however, the impoverished government in Cairo has complained louder and louder about the burden of foreigners.—
Vivian Yee,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Without that essential training to help surmount powerful systemic barriers, the kit would have been useless—and in that sense, the job is still woefully unfinished.—
Sheila McClear,
The Atlantic,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Esoteric knowledge of the parks, essentially useless anywhere else, is suddenly incredibly useful.—
Darryn King,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
12 Jan. 2025
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Everybody connected to the death of this poor guy is dead now.—
Makena Gera,
People.com,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2022
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Fanning out like urban guerrillas through Paris’ darkened streets well after midnight, the anti-waste activists shinny up walls and drain pipes, reaching for switches to turn off the lights. Click.—
The Christian Science Monitor,
The Christian Science Monitor,
3 Aug. 2022
Thesaurus Entries Near unproductive
Cite this Entry
“Unproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unproductive. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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