1
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
it's easiest to catch snakes early in the morning, while they're still cold and inactive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
an inactive oil well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inactive
All three wells are currently inactive and are not providing water for the community, Kohlmann said.
—
Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025
This is comparable in effect to regularly smoking and excessive drinking, being obese and physically inactive.
—João Medeiros, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2025
Nydam said in February that Department of Public Health staff members have continued their work while the committee has been inactive.
—Amy Yurkanin, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
Mineral reunited in 2014 after a 16-year hiatus but have been completely inactive since a one-off at Furnace Fest in 2021.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025
This is comparable in effect to regularly smoking and excessive drinking, being obese and physically inactive.
—João Medeiros, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2025
Nydam said in February that Department of Public Health staff members have continued their work while the committee has been inactive.
—Amy Yurkanin, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
Mineral reunited in 2014 after a 16-year hiatus but have been completely inactive since a one-off at Furnace Fest in 2021.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactive
Adjective
-
The historic start The Wild had been sleepy starters recently, giving up the first goal in each of their last six games.—
Joe Smith,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Today the old town seems to have retreated into a kind of sleepy Norman Rockwell innocence: the distant drone of a lawn mower, the call of kids playing catch, the smoky aromas of a barbecue.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While her blood was found inside the vehicle, there was no other trace of her and her bank accounts remained dormant.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
-
For a true super bloom to occur, a high proportion of seeds that have remained dormant and built up in soil over several years must bloom at once.—
Mae Hamilton,
AFAR Media,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Those huge currents disturb Earth's normally quiescent magnetic field, which in turn induces surges of current in electrical, telecommunications, and other networks across entire continents.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
24 Jan. 2012
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Prussians’ true sentiments might’ve been more clearly displayed by the lack of a popular groundswell of opposition to Bismarck and the king’s extralegal actions; the people remained quiescent and continued to pay their taxes without complaint.—
Christine Adams / Made by History,
TIME,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Alcaraz, who lives his best life at Indian Wells, playing golf on his off days and pummeling his opponent, chalked up the slow start and the loss to having fallen into the trap of thinking too much about his opponent rather than focusing on himself.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025
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Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The main romance is dull, but there’s plenty of fun slapstick and creative set-pieces in John Hughes’ script to make up for it.—
Barry Levitt,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Over time, excessive stimulation can lead to dysregulation of the reward system, making routine activities feel dull in comparison.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Two other seats were left vacant when Democratic lawmakers died.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Council members March 25 voted unanimously to rezone a vacant property on the west side of Montgomery for high-intensity mixed-use development, a designation allowing combinations of apartments, hotels and retail spaces.—
Jaime Moore-Carrillo,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Originally supposed to fly Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight, but payload switched to an inert mass simulator because of potential Dream Chaser delays beyond October launch date.—
Richard Tribou,
Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2025
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Polymers—very large molecules—are thought to be too big and inert to migrate out of products or into people and therefore pose no health risks.—
Arlene Blum,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But at the end of 2020, another 230,000 wells were idle.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2025
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These were a big 4 points for the Wild in the last two games, moving them 8 points ahead of the St. Louis Blues, who were idle and are in ninth place in the Western Conference.—
Joe Smith,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactive. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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