unprofitable

Not worth doing

Unprofitable describes something that fails to yield profit or benefit.

A business venture may prove unprofitable, losing money rather than making it.

The word extends beyond finances: an unprofitable conversation wastes time without producing useful results.

We spent an unprofitable afternoon searching for the lost keys.

financial

loss-making

Failing to profit

deficitAmount still owed
bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
insolvencyInability to pay debts

debt · shortfall · red · liabilities · write-off · unremunerative · liquidation · receivership · insolvent · underwater

futile

fruitless

Producing no useful outcome

futileIncapable of producing results
vainExcessively proud or futile
pointlessLacking any purpose

useless · ineffective · unavailing · unproductive · barren · abortive · bootless · worthless · idle · otiose

wasteful

drain

Channel for wastewater

squanderUse up carelessly
wastageLoss through inefficiency
hemorrhageProfuse discharge of blood

overhead · expense · burden · inefficient · counterproductive · unsustainable · sinkhole · leakage · dissipate · bleed

Categories

financial lossesnet loss, operating loss, capital loss, revenue loss, deficit
financesmoney, affluence, cash, bankrupt, income
futilefutile, useless, pointless, fruitless, vain
price wordscheap, expensive, costly, affordable, pricey

Opposites

financial return

unprofitableprofitable

Producing financial benefit

lucrative · remunerative · gainful · moneymaking · money-spinning

productive value

unprofitableproductive

Generating useful output

fruitful · worthwhile · rewarding · beneficial · valuable

practical utility

unprofitableuseful

Serving a purpose

effective · efficient · helpful · practical · functional

Family

unprofitability, unprofitably

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G