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.
Inefficient and polluting vehicles that can be stalled in traffic for hours at a time are a major culprit.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 11, 2023
Inefficient rules “ultimately run the risk of empty precedents for other countries,” she added.
From Washington Post • Nov. 24, 2021
Inefficient heating, poor sound insulation and water leaks made life difficult for the trainee priests - but it did not stop them from enjoying a game of football.
From BBC • Feb. 11, 2017
At first glance, this looks like an obstacle: Inefficient buildings are much harder to replace than inefficient cars.
From Slate • Feb. 13, 2013
Inefficient nations were always conquered sooner or later, and the struggle for efficiency was inimical to illusions.
From "1984" by George Orwell
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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