as in worthless
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nonproductive
North Dakota adopted a bill last year requiring a legislative council to study the feasibility of using nonproductive wells to generate geothermal power.
—
Maria Gallucci, Wired News, 16 May 2026
Returning nonproductive properties to the tax rolls, creating jobs and boosting the quality of life are only some of the benefits of redeveloping troubled properties.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Pruning also thins nonproductive stems, allowing light to reach the interior of the tree and ripen the fruit.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
The key is refusing to engage in circular or baiting conversations, instead setting boundaries and exiting nonproductive conversations.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Course of trade in the oil industry often leaves the public on the hook for nonproductive well cleanup costs, including capping.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Maria Gallucci, Wired News, 16 May 2026
Returning nonproductive properties to the tax rolls, creating jobs and boosting the quality of life are only some of the benefits of redeveloping troubled properties.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Pruning also thins nonproductive stems, allowing light to reach the interior of the tree and ripen the fruit.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
The key is refusing to engage in circular or baiting conversations, instead setting boundaries and exiting nonproductive conversations.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Course of trade in the oil industry often leaves the public on the hook for nonproductive well cleanup costs, including capping.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonproductive
Adjective
-
To bow and scrape before this worthless outsider is beneath me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Don't think the free themes are worthless; some rival Squarespace's slick visual style.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
While the quantum computing market holds immense potential, many pure-play firms remain unprofitable, relying on speculation rather than sustainable growth.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Trainer also notes that SpaceX will make its public debut as the most unprofitable player in all of its main businesses.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Oddly enough, Lewis — bedeviled by a series of injuries that included two season-ending knee surgeries since even before his MLB clock started ticking — has been healthy and unproductive.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
-
Never committing to any one character’s point of view, Balagov and Stepnova’s script freewheels in meandering but mostly disarming fashion between these strands, with an errant storytelling rhythm aptly reflective of lives that are at once static and in perpetually unproductive motion.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Attempts to interview him were unsuccessful.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations against him and tried to appeal both verdicts but has been unsuccessful in both cases, putting him on the verge of having to pay out millions.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Xbox seems like it’s getting bogged down in relatively pointless minutiae.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Diehards nitpicked pointless details like Bond's hair color as an excuse to dismiss the whole experiment.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
And being a humanitarian, useless.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
The forty-five minutes felt useless; the pre-meeting did not.—
Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
As children, Vi and Jinx lose their parents in an abortive revolution in Zaun, and years later find themselves on opposite sides of an unfolding power struggle between the two city-states.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
22 May 2026
-
The move fizzled and Herbst stayed put, but the abortive removal attempt has lingered like a dark cloud ever since.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
On Saturday, Durant reaffirmed his stance that the question of his and other superstars’ effort was an unavailing narrative to explore every February.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The position advanced by the states is legally unavailing as a matter of longstanding and well-established law.—
WSJ,
WSJ,
25 July 2018
Cite this Entry
“Nonproductive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonproductive. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
