inefficient
Frequently Asked Questions
- Machines, such as a gas-guzzling car or an old washing machine that uses up a lot of energy. Rube Goldberg machines are intentionally inefficient and overly complicated.
- People, such as a worker who completes tasks in roundabout ways or a runner who exerts unnecessary energy during each stride.
- Processes, such as a project that uses more of the budget than it needs to or involves more employees than is necessary.
- Institutions and organizations. People often accuse the government of being inefficient. An inefficient business is one that uses more resources than are necessary to operate.
- Without my monitor and mouse, I can still get work done, but I’m really inefficient—it takes me an hour to do what usually takes 10 minutes!
- Some people say that the government is too inefficient and should be run like a business.
- My car is so inefficient—it only gets 8 miles to the gallon.
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.
An inefficient youth pipeline, competition from other sports and an inability to develop a superstar are some of the reasons why the U.S. keeps losing in the World Cup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
"Energy inefficient homes take lives in winter and will increasingly threaten the most vulnerable in summer," said Adam Scorer, its chief executive.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Rather than relying on inefficient solutions, U.S. investors can improve their portfolio’s prospects by simply diversifying beyond the U.S.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
As a municipal party boss from 2013 to 2017, Li pursued 23 tourism projects, 16 of which have since been listed as inefficient and idle—including some half-built or abandoned ones, according to a state-television documentary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
He has a squeaky, inefficient voice that swallows syllables whole.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
Vocabulary lists containing inefficient
"Sorry, Wrong Number," Vocabulary from the play
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: in-, im-, il-, ir-
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Lawn Boy
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