Skip to main content
counterproductive

counterproductive

61 6.8
Doing something that makes the problem worse instead of better
  • adjective
  • /ˌkaʊntərprəˈdʌktɪv/
translation icon : contraproducente
  • To bring them together is not only artificial but may prove counterproductive.
  • prove counterproductive
  • counterproductive policies
  • even counterproductive

And it's counterproductive for a bra to not support your breast.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Anything less allows the student to float aimlessly through the system and is counterproductive to lifelong learning.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Your lack of cooperation during these sessions is counterproductive to treatment.

  • Phone calls to the schools were found to be counterproductive, and no more calls were made.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Destruction of North Vietnam would have been counterproductive in terms of the larger U.S. goal of containing China.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The approaches and strategies we have discussed above were often counterproductive to the objectives sought.

    Academic text (1992)
  • That's counterproductive and it makes the whole situation more hostile.

  • Is there something inherently counterproductive about the way corporations are structured?

  • But the BBC proved counterproductive: instead of bringing Adkins closer to his religion, it pushed him away.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Sending angry emails is often counterproductive and can escalate the situation further.

  • The team's decision to ignore crucial feedback proved to be counterproductive to their project goals.

Synonyms

self-defeating
vscounterproductive
12 6.6

Acting in a way that hurts your own goals

acts more generally to produce the opposite intended effect, not only self harm
disadvantageous
vscounterproductive
3 6.8

Causing problems that make someone or something worse off

causes the opposite intended result, making problems worse instead of helping
antiproductive
vscounterproductive
7.5

Making people do less work or get fewer results

focuses on producing outcomes opposite to intention rather than only lowering productivity

Antonyms

986 3.1

Produces the intended result, for example a speech or medicine

293 3.5

Able to do a lot and get useful results

How Counterproductive

disastrous
126 3.5
harmful
161 2.6
counterproductive
61 6.8
unhelpful
17 3.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

counterproductive = productive (transparent) = counter + product + ive

The adjective 'productive' combined with the prefix 'counter-' yields a clear opposite/contrary meaning, which learners can infer.

Etymology

Counterproductive starts with counter-, meaning 'against', like in counterattack, and ends with productive, meaning 'making or producing'. So something that is counterproductive is working 'against' your goal and actually makes the problem worse.