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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unproductive
Now, more than ever, the interactions—sometimes bordering on unproductive conflict—between different generations, shaped by different educations, study paths and historical contexts, risk becoming a missed opportunity.
—
Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
An unproductive offense has been the biggest drag on the Padres’ attempts to challenge the Dodgers in the division over the past month.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
Some of what’s ailed McDavid can be laid at the feet of a power play that’s been mostly unproductive in the series.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 16 June 2025
That said, the 31-year-old first baseman been unproductive the entire season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
An unproductive offense has been the biggest drag on the Padres’ attempts to challenge the Dodgers in the division over the past month.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
Some of what’s ailed McDavid can be laid at the feet of a power play that’s been mostly unproductive in the series.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 16 June 2025
That said, the 31-year-old first baseman been unproductive the entire season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unproductive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unproductive
Adjective
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Then there is Canada and Greenland’s beef over the uninhabited Hans Island, a barren spit in the Kennedy Channel.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 July 2025
-
Brown, barren, patchy spots in your lawn can be unsightly.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Although a request for proposals for a new company to run the facility drew interest from at least two companies, neither ended up completing the process to submit a proposal and efforts to reach out to other companies have so far been unsuccessful, Hyde said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 July 2025
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Roughly 45 seconds later, Van der Walt tried to add hot air to the envelope and close the rapid deflation valve but was unsuccessful, according to the report.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Padam and Tulsi, whose remote Himalayan village has become increasingly desolate as families migrate to cities, leaving the pair to wonder who will perform their last rites.—
Variety Staff,
Variety,
25 July 2025
-
Imagine how desolate the Democrats are that a Democrat running on affordability is an anti-establishment Democrat.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Go with the flow, but not toward the beach: Trying to swim directly toward the beach when caught in a rip current is futile and exhausting.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 July 2025
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This group saw military responses as futile, as Iran was assumed to have escalation dominance.—
JAMES JEFFREY,
Foreign Affairs,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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Will parts of Norway look like Nauru, a formerly lush tropical paradise stripped of its phosphate rock, and now a barren, impoverished cautionary tale?—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Likewise, food stamps are still going to be provided to the disabled, families with young children, and the impoverished elderly, even if Democrats want to pretend otherwise.—
Frank Miele,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Followers are useless, but engaged customers and a devoted tribe of community members are priceless.—
Solo Ceesay,
Rolling Stone,
28 July 2025
-
Fertilizing before heavy rain is useless at best and harmful at worst.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Taking too many is poor etiquette and inconsiderate to other shoppers.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 July 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
Cite this Entry
“Unproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unproductive. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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