inefficient (B2)

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt/

Definition

Not achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense; wasteful of time, energy, or resources.

Examples

• The old heating system was very inefficient, costing a lot to run and still leaving the house cold.

• Their communication process was so inefficient that important messages often got lost.

• Working without a clear plan can be an incredibly inefficient way to complete a project.

How to Use inefficient

inefficient at something (prepositional phrase)

Not good at doing something without wasting resources. — "He was notoriously inefficient at managing his time."

inefficient for (prepositional phrase)

Not suitable or effective for a particular purpose. — "The current software is inefficient for handling such a large volume of data."

Synonyms of inefficient

Words with a similar meaning to inefficient:

• wasteful
• unproductive
• ineffective
• suboptimal

Antonyms of inefficient

Words with the opposite meaning to inefficient:

• efficient
• productive
• effective

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