counterproductive

This term describes a specific type of failure where the effort expended actually creates a new obstacle or worsens the original problem. It carries a tone of irony or frustration, as the actor is working hard but moving in the wrong direction. In professional or technical contexts, it is often used to critique strategies, policies, or habits that seem logical on the surface but fail in practice. It differs from simply being ineffective, as an ineffective action does nothing, while a counterproductive action actively harms the goal.