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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.

Restaurants at 197 hotels will be replaced by an "integrated food and drink model", which the company said would be more efficient and was preferred by guests.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

But plunging prices ultimately forced U.S. producers to become more efficient and competitive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

“Said differently, after years of over-hiring and retaining employees when labor was scarce, companies are returning to a more efficient labor force,” Senyek writes.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

Because diffusion becomes less efficient over longer distances, researchers concluded that modern oxygen levels would not be sufficient to support the energy demands of extremely large flying insects.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

Gottman comes at the issue sideways, which, he has found, can be a lot quicker and a more efficient path to the truth than coming at it head-on.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

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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