inefficiently

/ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃntli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃntli/ (ame, ipa)

inefficiently — adverb

1. using more time, money, energy, or effort than the job actually requires — usual

1.副詞B2
釋義

using more time, money, energy, or effort than the job actually requires — usually because the process is poorly planned or the people doing it lack the right skills.

例句

The old factory ran inefficiently, burning twice the fuel of newer plants down the road.

verb + inefficiently — describing how a process is carried out

Otis admitted that his small team had been working inefficiently for weeks.

be + working inefficiently — describing ongoing low-output activity

同義詞
  • wastefully

    stresses the loss of money or material; 'inefficiently' stresses poor use of effort or time.

  • uneconomically

    more formal; usually about money or fuel rather than human effort.

  • ineffectively

    near-neighbour but focuses on not achieving the goal, not on wasting resources along the way.

反義詞
  • efficiently

    direct opposite — getting the same result with less time, money, or effort.

  • economically

    stresses thrift with money or material.

用法筆記

Subject is usually a process, system, organisation, or resource (factory, team, funds, kitchen, meeting), not a single concrete action. Commonly appears in the passive after verbs like 'run', 'use', 'spend', 'manage', 'organise', 'lay out'.

常見錯誤

❌She drives inefficiently to work every day.
✅The car uses fuel inefficiently on short trips.
💡'inefficiently' describes wasteful use of resources, not an everyday physical action.
❌He answered the question inefficiently.
✅He answered the question poorly.
💡'inefficiently' needs a process that consumes time, money, or energy, not a single verbal act.