# unproductive

**Pronunciation:** /ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv/ · un-pruh-DUK-tiv

**CEFR level:** B2

**Part of speech:** adjective

## Meaning

Not achieving much, not producing good results, or not yielding a profit or benefit.

## Examples

- The meeting was largely unproductive, as no decisions were made.
- After several unproductive attempts, they decided to abandon the project.
- Farmers worried that the dry spell would make their fields unproductive this season.

## Synonyms

- fruitless — Emphasizes a lack of success despite effort, often implying a waste of time.
- ineffective — Focuses on not achieving the desired effect or outcome.
- futile — Suggests that an action is pointless because it's impossible to succeed.
- barren — Often refers to land or a period of time that yields nothing, physically or creatively.

## Antonyms

- productive — Achieving good results or producing a lot.
- effective — Successful in producing a desired or intended result.
- fruitful — Producing good or abundant results; beneficial.

## Common patterns

- unproductive in — Not achieving results in a particular area or activity. — He felt unproductive in his efforts to learn a new language without consistent practice.
- unproductive to — Referring to something that is not beneficial or useful for a person or goal. — It's unproductive to dwell on past mistakes; focus on the future.

## Collocations

- unproductive meeting — We had another unproductive meeting that lasted for hours.
- unproductive discussion — The debate turned into an unproductive discussion with no clear resolution.
- unproductive land — The drought left much of the farmland unproductive.

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