inefficient

/ɪnɪˈfɪʃɪnt/

/ɪnɪˈfɪʃənt/

Inefficient things waste time, money, or other resources. Your old inefficient dishwasher uses much more water and electricity than a new model would. Shame on you.

Inefficient businesses have trouble making money and growing, and an inefficient city bus system might transport just a few passengers at a time. If your car is inefficient, it gets terrible gas mileage and is expensive to drive. If something is efficient, it's productive and inexpensive. Inefficient has the opposite meaning, which is clear from the "not" prefix in-.

Definitions of inefficient

1. adjective

   not producing desired results; wasteful
   “outdated and inefficient design and methods”

   synonyms:

   incompetent

   not qualified or suited for a purpose

   ineffective, ineffectual, uneffective

   not producing an intended effect

   uneconomical, wasteful

   inefficient in use of time and effort and materials

   antonyms:

   efficient

   being effective without wasting time or effort or expense

   competent

   properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

   effective, effectual, efficacious

   producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect

   businesslike

   exhibiting methodical and systematic characteristics that would be useful in business

   cost-effective, cost-efficient

   productive relative to the cost

   economic, economical

   using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness

   expeditious

   marked by speed and efficiency

   high-octane

   describing a powerful fuel that burns fast and boosts engine performance

   streamlined

   made efficient by stripping off nonessentials
2. adjective

   lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively; inadequate
   “inefficient workers”

   synonyms: ineffective

   incompetent

   not qualified or suited for a purpose