as in inability
the lack of ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy
The candidate blamed her opponent for the local government's inefficiency.
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Recent Examples of inefficiency
The modules also monitor the water system to detect leaks or other inefficiencies that might be wasting consumers' money.
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Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
Part of Johnson inefficiency comes down to shot selection.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 11 Dec. 2024
Use these pilots to identify inefficiencies and refine strategies without the risk of full-scale deployment.
—Aparna Prabhakar, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
The arsenal of democracy will not endure if the United States’ own inefficiencies—or the opposition of vocal minorities in Congress—dissuade vulnerable allies from buying American.
—Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inefficiency 
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
Part of Johnson inefficiency comes down to shot selection.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 11 Dec. 2024
Use these pilots to identify inefficiencies and refine strategies without the risk of full-scale deployment.
—Aparna Prabhakar, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
The arsenal of democracy will not endure if the United States’ own inefficiencies—or the opposition of vocal minorities in Congress—dissuade vulnerable allies from buying American.
—Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inefficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficiency
Noun
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This could allow therapies that were previously ineffective — due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier to reach their target in the central nervous system — to directly target tissues.Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
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The players can’t duck the blame, either, as their season-long inability to play complementary football came to a head in the worst way.James Boyd, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Quelle surprise: a squad built with piecemeal incompetence (and for other coaches) is struggling to get to grips with Amorim’s system.Phil Hay, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
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The researchers studied the reactions of 74 dogs, which were of different ages and breeds, to different levels of competence or incompetence.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The federal incompetency fine constitutional amendment This is a measure to help reduce political gridlock.Gary Franks, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2024
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Brown signed an incompetency finding last Wednesday.Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near inefficiency
Cite this Entry
“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficiency. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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