NYT Dictionary

INEFFICIENT

/ˌɪn.ɪˈfɪʃ.ənt/

AdjectiveNounin-ef-FI-cientin-ef-fi-cient · 4 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Not efficient; not producing the effect intended or desired; inefficacious.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English efficient English inefficient From in- + efficient.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

ineffectiveartlessawkwardfutilehelplessinapt inattentiveincapableincompetentineffectual

Antonyms

efficient

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 8 recorded puzzles:

2026-01-24ECUTIFN
2025-07-04CEOIFNT
2025-01-17NTICLFE
2024-12-10NCTFEIV
2023-10-28NUCTFEI
2023-07-09CTDNEFI
2023-05-11FCTNIGE
2023-01-02CETIFNV