“Antonyms of ‘efficiency’” refer to words that have the opposite meaning of “efficiency”.
Efficiency is the quality of being able to do something well and quickly, without wasting time, energy, or resources. For example, “The new machine increased the efficiency of the production process.”
One antonym for efficiency is “inefficiency”. Inefficiency means being unable to perform tasks effectively or wasting resources. For instance, “The old system was plagued by inefficiency and delays.” While efficiency leads to smooth operations and productivity, inefficiency causes problems and slows things down.
Another antonym could be “wastefulness”. Wastefulness is the act of using more than necessary or being careless with resources. For example, “His wasteful habits led to high expenses.” Efficiency aims to use resources wisely, whereas wastefulness is the opposite—being extravagant and not mindful of consumption.
“sluggishness” can also be considered an antonym. Sluggishness implies being slow or lacking energy and initiative. For example, “The team’s sluggish performance was a sign of inefficiency.” In contrast to the briskness and effectiveness of efficiency, sluggishness is characterized by lethargy and lack of drive.
In conclusion, words like inefficiency, wastefulness, and sluggishness are antonyms of efficiency as they represent qualities that are contrary to being productive, effective, and resourceful.