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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.

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

Refineries can use lighter grades but the processing isn’t as efficient or profitable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

While graphics processing units are optimized for training large models, CPUs are the most efficient way to power agentic AI needs such as real-time reasoning and coding, the company said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

The new DeepSeek-V4 model is released as two versions, DeepSeek-V4-Pro and DeepSeek-V4-Flash, with the latter being "a more efficient and economical choice" because it has smaller parameters.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

When we fight now, it’s far less dramatic, often more efficient, and always with our love for each other, no matter how strained, still in sight.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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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