Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

efficient

[ih-fish-uhnt] / ɪˈfɪʃ ənt /
ADJECTIVE
capable, effective
Synonyms
STRONGEST
able active adept adequate capable competent decisive dynamic economical effective energetic potent powerful productive profitable skilled skillful tough useful valuable
WEAK
accomplished adapted apt businesslike clever conducive deft economic effectual efficacious equal to experienced expert familiar with fitted good at good for handy masterly organized practiced proficient qualified ready saving shrewd systematic talented virtuous well-organized
Antonyms
STRONGEST
delicate fragile idle impotent inactive inadequate incapable incompetent ineffective inept lazy sluggish unable unskilled unskillful useless weak worthless
WEAK
helpless inefficient powerless

Usage

What are other ways to say efficient? The adjective efficient, when applied to a person or a thing, implies the skillful use of energy or industry to accomplish desired results with little waste of effort: efficient methods; an efficient manager. Effective is applied to a person or a thing that has the power to, or which actually does, produce an effect: an effective boss, remedy, speech. Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy. Efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"To be efficient in multiple disciplines…is very important, and it's very difficult ... it just takes a level of dedication and commitment to make it happen."

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

“ETPs are a natural starting point, given London’s established position as a leading international ETP hub and the strong global demand for products that provide efficient exposure to markets worldwide,” said the LSE.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

Their method proved efficient enough for some of the calculations to run on a personal laptop.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

With the new advances in AI and machine learning-based tools "on the computing side, plus the availability of data, we can be faster, more efficient in recognising important patterns", Knutti said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

She was cool, organized, and efficient, and used to working mostly with men.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein