inefficiency

as in inability
the lack of ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy The candidate blamed her opponent for the local government's inefficiency.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inefficiency As for whether Dana can go so far as to empathize with her attacker, given that inefficiency, LaNasa isn’t sure. Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 27 Feb. 2025 For others, gold’s lack of income generation or inefficiency as a short-term investment could be dealbreakers. Nathan Mahr, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025 There’s a lot of rhetoric around inefficiencies within the American science enterprise right now. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 Feb. 2025 Those who support the billionaire's leadership of DOGE say his efforts address inefficiencies in federal bureaucracy. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficiency
Noun
  • Your inability to establish a rational, functional and legal system of immigration is an abject failure on your part.
    Peter Cunningham, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Is your partner’s inability to live up to their words eroding your love?
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • As if this stunning display of incompetence was not enough, La Shell — the only non-Family player left on the hike — let David and Parvati finish the hike without a fight.
    Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Detectives torpedoed their own investigations with long delays, lost evidence, incompetence and attempts to cover up mistakes, police memos show.
    Donna McGuire, Ian Cummings, and Glenn E. Rice, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • When pressed on such timelines during a Senate hearing in December 2024, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf reiterated the issue isn’t a matter of corruption or incompetency, but federal support.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
  • It's been a revolving door of incompetency under center for the Browns this year.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficiency. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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