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.
Others are buying bigger but relatively inefficient and polluting natural-gas turbines, or even repurposed jet engines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
In reducing tax bills, charitable deductions can be useful but inefficient.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Zhu became known for his ardent anti-corruption drive, controversial dismantling of inefficient state-owned firms and integration of China with the global economy.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
In each start, Skubal has been inefficient, he’s been searching for his command.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
The first few EVAs were pretty inefficient; me filling small containers and bringing them in through the airlock.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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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