unfertile
Lacking productive capacity
Unfertile means unable to produce offspring, crops, or growth—synonymous with infertile or barren.
The word applies to land that won't support plant life, animals or people who cannot reproduce, or ideas that fail to generate results: The unfertile soil yielded nothing despite their efforts.
Infertile is more common in most contexts.
Devoid of water
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- dryFree from moisture
- dustyCoated with fine particles
- waterlessWithout any liquid
desiccated · drought · desert · scorched · sunbaked · dehydrated · cracked · withered
Unable to produce
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- unprolificNot producing much
- unfruitfulFailing to produce results
empty · desolate · bleak · lifeless · inhospitable · unyielding · fallow · depleted
Free from microorganisms
- childlessLacking any offspring
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
- barrennessInability to bear fruit
- sterilityAbsence of microbes or fertility
menopause · contraception · vasectomy · miscarriage · inconceivable · nonproductive
arid
Devoid of water
waterless · desiccated · drought · desert · scorched · sunbaked · dehydrated · cracked · withered · rainless
barren
Unable to produce
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- unprolificNot producing much
unfruitful · empty · desolate · bleak · lifeless · inhospitable · unyielding · fallow · depleted · exhausted
sterile
Free from microorganisms
- childlessLacking any offspring
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
- barrennessInability to bear fruit
sterility · menopause · contraception · vasectomy · miscarriage · inconceivable · nonproductive