Counterproductive: meaning, example and synonyms

Counterproductiveadj. Having the opposite of the intended effect; defeating its own purpose.

$Flashcard for Counterproductive (adjective): having the opposite of the intended effect; defeating its own purpose. Example: Harsh penalties for minor infractions proved counterproductive, since students began hiding mistakes instead of learning from them. Synonyms: self-defeating, futile, detrimental, ineffective. Antonyms: productive, effective, beneficial, constructive. Memory tip: Counter + productive: works against what you meant to produce. Illustration: a man in work clothes frantically bailing water into a small rowboat with a bucket from the lake, the boat sinking lower.$

Example

Harsh penalties for minor infractions proved counterproductive, since students began hiding mistakes instead of learning from them.

Part of speech: adjective
Synonyms: self-defeating, futile, detrimental, ineffective
Antonyms: productive, effective, beneficial, constructive
Memory tip: Counter + productive: works against what you meant to produce.

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Check yourself: Counterproductive in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

Overwatering seedlings is ______: gardeners who drench their plants hoping to speed growth often rot the roots and stunt the very growth they wanted.

Question 2

The study found that lengthy warnings were ______, since readers overwhelmed by detail skipped the labels entirely and missed the one caution that mattered.

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