1
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
be careful when putting your hands in even an inoperative garbage disposal
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
looking for an expert to fix the inoperative grandfather clock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in invalid
having no legal or binding force
the decision of the state's supreme court has rendered the law inoperative
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of inoperative
On Tuesday morning, several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Pennsylvania.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
By June 73 per cent of the country’s thermal power generating units had been rendered inoperative.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
All of that will be instantly inoperative as of January 21, 2025, if not right after Election Day.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Sep. 2024
In these conditions, if the ABS falsely activates and a specific sequence of wheel movements occur, the vehicle’s ABS system will continue to release braking pressure, which can reduce stopping performance or the service brakes can become inoperative, increasing the risk of a crash, Acura said.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inoperative 
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
By June 73 per cent of the country’s thermal power generating units had been rendered inoperative.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
All of that will be instantly inoperative as of January 21, 2025, if not right after Election Day.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Sep. 2024
In these conditions, if the ABS falsely activates and a specific sequence of wheel movements occur, the vehicle’s ABS system will continue to release braking pressure, which can reduce stopping performance or the service brakes can become inoperative, increasing the risk of a crash, Acura said.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inoperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperative
Adjective
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In one order, Trump directed the federal government to resume construction of the border wall, which was largely dormant under the Biden administration.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
21 Jan. 2025
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Hike Rangitoto Island – the largest and youngest of Auckland’s 48 dormant volcanic cones.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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According to Grant's legal team, these new revelations show that the arbitration clause in the NDA is invalid, and the case must be heard in court.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
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Image Opponents have argued that a seven-year deadline imposed by Congress (and later extended by another three years) meant the ratification was not completed in time, while proponents maintain the deadline was invalid.—
Peter Baker,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Often, Jones would bring his daughter to the facility on an off day.—
Chad Graff,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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So on this off day, Powell got a massage in preparation for the grind to come.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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More than 250 were injured and taken to nine Baltimore hospitals, suffering abrasions, head injuries and broken bones.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2025
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There is a broken down vehicle on US-69 from 135th Street to Blue Valley Parkway.—
Kansas City Star Bot,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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According to the sages of Wall Street, the legacy cable/satellite/telco-TV bundle is as dead as the Diplodocus, although there are still an awful lot of customers banging around in that null set.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Jan. 2025
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Or at least Eren couldn’t, and his conclusion ably demonstrated the scientific value of null results.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Code Blue took effect Sunday night — before a body was pulled from a burning and vacant home on North Avenue.—
Lorraine Mirabella,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Jan. 2025
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Demolition so far is confined to smaller buildings at the northeast corner of the property, but will swing to the west to take in the residential buildings of the vacant Howe Developmental Center, part of the 280-acre property northwest of 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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All told, those properties were issued roughly 50 violations, according to city records, for violations including overgrowth, junk and inoperable cars parked on the properties.—
Ben Wieder,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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More than likely, TikTok would just become inoperable on your phone as more and more services drop support.—
Chloe Albanesius,
PCMAG,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But creatives and companies alike are about to get a wake-up call when the app’s banned and a massive void rips open with nothing to replace it.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
17 Jan. 2025
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Furthermore, Alex Caruso should be fairly close to returning from injury and will certainly fill the void Mitchell is leaving.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near inoperative
Cite this Entry
“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperative. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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