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Definitions

efficient

[ih-fish-uhnt] / ɪˈfɪʃ ənt /
ADJECTIVE
capable, effective
Synonyms
STRONGEST
able active adept adequate capable competent decisive dynamic economical effective energetic potent powerful productive profitable skilled skillful tough useful valuable
WEAK
accomplished adapted apt businesslike clever conducive deft economic effectual efficacious equal to experienced expert familiar with fitted good at good for handy masterly organized practiced proficient qualified ready saving shrewd systematic talented virtuous well-organized
Antonyms
STRONGEST
delicate fragile idle impotent inactive inadequate incapable incompetent ineffective inept lazy sluggish unable unskilled unskillful useless weak worthless
WEAK
helpless inefficient powerless

Usage

What are other ways to say efficient? The adjective efficient, when applied to a person or a thing, implies the skillful use of energy or industry to accomplish desired results with little waste of effort: efficient methods; an efficient manager. Effective is applied to a person or a thing that has the power to, or which actually does, produce an effect: an effective boss, remedy, speech. Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy. Efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The chips proved more energy efficient, and Mac sales soared after the change.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

"It might also lead to the development of more efficient electronics, improved solar cells and faster devices by enabling a better understanding of how materials behave at extremely fast timescales."

From Science Daily • Apr. 21, 2026

Scenic designer Alex Mollo has worked out an efficient way of shifting between these realms by employing the same set of wooden trunks.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Google could look to Marvell for chips designed to make the process of AI inference—producing results from models—more efficient, according to The Information.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

We burn the paper in a screened enclosure and it is fairly efficient, but it’s impossible to get all the food particles off wrapping paper, so when it’s burned the food particles burn with it.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Vocabulary lists containing efficient

List 1

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Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work

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Essential English Vocabulary, List 1

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