The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HOPELESS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
H
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P
E
L
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S
More clues leading to the result HOPELESS
- In despair, having lost American Bob?
- Impossible exercises in pits with sulphur
- Full of despair, he takes not as much work in
- Inefficient car impounded by Nazi
- Desperate, unlike the “Road To” films?
- See 28ac.
- Wretched depression’s solved firstly taking exercise
- Awful trampoline finally put in without springs?
- Very poor – and with no expectations
- Lacking faith in, say, soccer star's school
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Inefficient" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case inefficient = hopeless.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HOPELESS mean?
HOPELESS adjective- Without hope; despairing; not expecting anything positive.
- Giving no ground of hope; promising nothing desirable; desperate.
- Without talent, not skilled
- (of an adverse condition) Incurable.