Categories: GeneralSynonyms

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)

adversePreventing success or development; harmful; unfavourable.
Adverse currents.
badFeeling physical discomfort or pain tough is occasionally used colloquially for bad.
It was a bad light for reading.
balefulThreatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments.
Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction.
calamitousInvolving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous.
Such calamitous events as fires hurricanes and floods.
corruptingHarmful to the mind or morals.
Corrupt judges and their corrupting influence.
damagingDesigned or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions.
Damaging to career and reputation.
dangerousInvolving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm.
Unemployment reached dangerous proportions.
deleteriousCausing harm or damage.
Divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children.
destructiveCausing great and irreparable damage.
The destructive power of weapons.
disastrousCausing great damage.
A disastrous fire swept through the museum.
evilOf 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.
harmfulCausing or capable of causing harm.
The ozone layer blocks the harmful rays from the sun.
hurtfulCausing distress to someone’s feelings.
His hurtful remarks.
illPresaging ill fortune P B Shelley.
Ill from the monotony of his suffering.
inimicalTending to obstruct or harm.
An inimical critic.
injuriousCausing or likely to cause damage or harm.
Food which is injurious to health.
malignHaving or exerting a malignant influence.
Gave him a malign look.
malignantEvil in nature or effect; malevolent.
In the hands of malignant fate.
perniciousWorking or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way.
The pernicious influences of the mass media.
prejudicialCausing harm or injury.
The proposals were considered prejudicial to the city centre.
ruinousCosting far more than can be afforded.
A ruinous war.
undesirableNot wanted or desirable because harmful, objectionable, or unpleasant.
The drug s undesirable side effects.
unfavourableLikely to lead to an adverse outcome.
Unfavourable economic conditions.
unfortunateNot 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)

bootlessUnproductive of success.
Remonstrating with him seems ever to have been a bootless task.
datedMarked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past.
A dated expression.
fruitlessUnproductive of success.
A fruitless search.
futileIncapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
A futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage.
harmfulCausing or likely to cause harm.
Harmful effects of smoking.
incapable(followed by `of’) lacking capacity or ability.
Incapable of carrying a tune.
incompetenceInability of a part or organ to function properly.
Allegations of professional incompetence.
incompetentAn incompetent person.
A forgetful and utterly incompetent assistant.
ineffectiveNot 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.
ineptHaving or showing no skill; clumsy.
The referee s inept handling of the match.
infertileIncapable of reproducing.
Infertile couples are offered specialist advice.
invalidHaving no cogency or legal force.
She spent the rest of her life as an invalid.
noxiousHarmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
Noxious ideas.
nugatoryOf no real value.
A nugatory and pointless observation.
perniciousExceedingly harmful.
The pernicious influences of the mass media.
poisonousNot safe to eat.
A poisonous snake.
powerlessLacking power.
Troops were powerless to stop last night s shooting.
retreatMake a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity.
A speedy retreat.
retrogradeShow retrograde motion.
The glacier retrogrades.
retrogressionThe 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.
unavailingAchieving little or nothing; ineffective.
Their efforts were unavailing.
unhealthyNot conducive to good health.
An unhealthy diet of fast foods.
unproductiveNot producing or capable of producing.
Unproductive land must be reforested.
uselessHaving no ability or skill in a specified activity or area.
A kitchen full of useless gadgets.
vainUnproductive of success.
The vain hope of finding work.
virulenceBitter hostility; rancour.
The proportion of birds which die depends on the virulence of the virus.
wastefulLaying waste- Shakespeare.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn.
worthlessHaving no real value or use.
Joan had been deserted by a worthless husband.
Alexei

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