1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
some volcanoes have eruptive cycles marked by long stretches of dormancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inertia
lack of action or activity
a fighting force that could be roused instantly from dormancy to action
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dormancy
The midge’s two-year life cycle also includes long periods of dormancy.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
The researchers aren’t entirely sure how the microalgae managed to stay alive and out of dormancy through the darkest times.
—Asher Elbein, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2025
Many plant seeds require a period of cold temperatures, called stratification, to break dormancy.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025
Reduce irrigation in fall as plants prepare for winter dormancy.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
The researchers aren’t entirely sure how the microalgae managed to stay alive and out of dormancy through the darkest times.
—Asher Elbein, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2025
Many plant seeds require a period of cold temperatures, called stratification, to break dormancy.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025
Reduce irrigation in fall as plants prepare for winter dormancy.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
-
Pitchers were randomly checked throughout a game, and if there was any sticky residue on their fingers, they were thrown out and subject to fines and suspensions.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Showalter called the department's suspensions insufficient.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Many of these protagonists endure the tedium and humiliation of involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations, losing days and years to paralyzing inertia, and experiencing terrifying delusions of persecution and betrayal.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2025
-
These aren’t failures of strategy—they’re natural expressions of behavioral inertia.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
On May 16, The Weeknd will bring his album Hurry Up Tomorrow, which topped the Billboard 200, to the big screen as a suspense thriller.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
26 Mar. 2025
-
One thing Alexi is really good at is creating suspense, even in the read.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Although Schneider's exact date predictions may or may not come to pass, the pattern of the super-active phase followed by quiescence and dimming suggests that the nova is just around the corner.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Surviving Extreme Conditions No other insect is known to switch between quiescence and obligate diapause.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Climate change is costly to ignore As the impacts of climate change grow in both frequency and magnitude, the costs of inaction are increasing.—
Paul Bierman,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
-
It was used in the Silence = Death campaign to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic, and to criticize the government's inaction on the virus.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share