COUNTERPRODUCTIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for COUNTERPRODUCTIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “counterproductive”? Find 24 synonyms and 30 related words for “counterproductive” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Counterproductive” are: harmful, damaging, injurious, hurtful, inimical, deleterious, dangerous, destructive, ruinous, calamitous, disastrous, pernicious, ill, bad, evil, baleful, malign, corrupting, malignant, adverse, undesirable, prejudicial, unfavourable, unfortunate

Counterproductive as an Adjective

Definitions of "Counterproductive" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “counterproductive” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Tending to hinder the achievement of a goal.
• Having the opposite of the desired effect.

Synonyms of "Counterproductive" as an adjective (24 Words)

adverse	Preventing success or development; harmful; unfavourable. Adverse currents.
bad	Feeling physical discomfort or pain tough is occasionally used colloquially for bad. It was a bad light for reading.
baleful	Threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments. Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction.
calamitous	Involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous. Such calamitous events as fires hurricanes and floods.
corrupting	Harmful to the mind or morals. Corrupt judges and their corrupting influence.
damaging	Designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions. Damaging to career and reputation.
dangerous	Involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm. Unemployment reached dangerous proportions.
deleterious	Causing harm or damage. Divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children.
destructive	Causing great and irreparable damage. The destructive power of weapons.
disastrous	Causing great damage. A disastrous fire swept through the museum.
evil	Of a force or spirit embodying or associated with the forces of the devil. Stories about the evil effects of television on children make good copy.
harmful	Causing or capable of causing harm. The ozone layer blocks the harmful rays from the sun.
hurtful	Causing distress to someone’s feelings. His hurtful remarks.
ill	Presaging ill fortune P B Shelley. Ill from the monotony of his suffering.
inimical	Tending to obstruct or harm. An inimical critic.
injurious	Causing or likely to cause damage or harm. Food which is injurious to health.
malign	Having or exerting a malignant influence. Gave him a malign look.
malignant	Evil in nature or effect; malevolent. In the hands of malignant fate.
pernicious	Working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way. The pernicious influences of the mass media.
prejudicial	Causing harm or injury. The proposals were considered prejudicial to the city centre.
ruinous	Costing far more than can be afforded. A ruinous war.
undesirable	Not wanted or desirable because harmful, objectionable, or unpleasant. The drug s undesirable side effects.
unfavourable	Likely to lead to an adverse outcome. Unfavourable economic conditions.
unfortunate	Not indicating a good chance of success; inauspicious. Unfortunate investments.

Usage Examples of "Counterproductive" as an adjective

• Child experts fear the Executive's plans may prove counterproductive.

Associations of "Counterproductive" (30 Words)

bootless	Unproductive of success. Remonstrating with him seems ever to have been a bootless task.
dated	Marked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past. A dated expression.
fruitless	Unproductive of success. A fruitless search.
futile	Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless. A futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage.
harmful	Causing or likely to cause harm. Harmful effects of smoking.
incapable	(followed by `of’) lacking capacity or ability. Incapable of carrying a tune.
incompetence	Inability of a part or organ to function properly. Allegations of professional incompetence.
incompetent	An incompetent person. A forgetful and utterly incompetent assistant.
ineffective	Not producing any significant or desired effect. The legal sanctions against oil spills are virtually ineffective.
ineffectual	(of a person) lacking the ability or qualities to fulfil a role or handle a situation. The therapy was ineffectual.
inept	Having or showing no skill; clumsy. The referee s inept handling of the match.
infertile	Incapable of reproducing. Infertile couples are offered specialist advice.
invalid	Having no cogency or legal force. She spent the rest of her life as an invalid.
noxious	Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant. Noxious ideas.
nugatory	Of no real value. A nugatory and pointless observation.
pernicious	Exceedingly harmful. The pernicious influences of the mass media.
poisonous	Not safe to eat. A poisonous snake.
powerless	Lacking power. Troops were powerless to stop last night s shooting.
retreat	Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity. A speedy retreat.
retrograde	Show retrograde motion. The glacier retrogrades.
retrogression	The process of returning to an earlier state, typically a worse one. A retrogression to 19th century attitudes.
unable	(usually followed by `to’) lacking necessary physical or mental ability. Dyslexics are unable to learn to read adequately.
unavailing	Achieving little or nothing; ineffective. Their efforts were unavailing.
unhealthy	Not conducive to good health. An unhealthy diet of fast foods.
unproductive	Not producing or capable of producing. Unproductive land must be reforested.
useless	Having no ability or skill in a specified activity or area. A kitchen full of useless gadgets.
vain	Unproductive of success. The vain hope of finding work.
virulence	Bitter hostility; rancour. The proportion of birds which die depends on the virulence of the virus.
wasteful	Laying waste- Shakespeare. When wasteful war shall statues overturn.
worthless	Having no real value or use. Joan had been deserted by a worthless husband.