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German frequency list

No. 14,468 in German

kontraproduktiv

Counterproductive: having the opposite effect of what was intended or desired.

In a sentence

  • Die Entscheidung, die Arbeitsbedingungen zu verschärfen, war kontraproduktiv.

    The decision to tighten working conditions was counterproductive.

    The term 'kontraproduktiv' is used here to describe an action (tightening working conditions) that produced effects opposite to the intended productive outcome.

  • Es wäre kontraproduktiv, wenn wir unsere Kosten senken, aber die Qualität darunter leidet.

    It would be counterproductive if we lower our costs but the quality suffers as a result.

    Here, 'kontraproduktiv' highlights a hypothetical scenario where achieving one goal (lowering costs) negatively affects another goal (maintaining quality).

  • Ihre Herangehensweise an das Projekt war eher kontraproduktiv als hilfreich.

    Her approach to the project was more counterproductive than helpful.

    In this case, the word describes an approach to a task (approach to the project) that seems to hinder rather than help achieve the project's goals.

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