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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inactive
The fault caused an increase of current on energized lines running parallel to the company’s inactive line in Eaton Canyon, where the blaze is thought to have started.
—
Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
On the other hand, the inactive B12 (Holo-HC) is mostly just ‘in storage’ in the liver and doesn’t directly help with bodily functions.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2025
The lawsuit alleges negligence and argues that the panel was supposed to be inactive but had already been powered up, resulting in Gomez’s electrocution.
—Peter Eisler, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Jacobs started 13 of 15 game appearances last year, after being inactive for the first two weeks of the season and getting claimed off waivers from Denver in late August.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
On the other hand, the inactive B12 (Holo-HC) is mostly just ‘in storage’ in the liver and doesn’t directly help with bodily functions.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2025
The lawsuit alleges negligence and argues that the panel was supposed to be inactive but had already been powered up, resulting in Gomez’s electrocution.
—Peter Eisler, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Jacobs started 13 of 15 game appearances last year, after being inactive for the first two weeks of the season and getting claimed off waivers from Denver in late August.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactive
Adjective
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Stay Here: Christian Louboutin’s Vermelho (a Relais & Châteaux property in the sleepy village of Melides) is a true visual feast.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2025
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Eco-friendly boutique shops, trendy coffee spots, and cafes selling poke bowls have also popped up throughout the sleepy coastal town.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Producing companies can maintain decent drilling programs at $70 oil, but most of the currently active rigs would quickly go dormant at $50 per barrel.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Obligate diapause solves this by ensuring that the whole population goes dormant just before pupation, the final transformation from larva to adult.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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In its first winter, the larva enters a quiescent state, pausing its development until conditions improve.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Park officials later discovered the remains in the original search area using a human remains detection canine during an off-trail grid search.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The fight was very dull and Ankalaev most held his way to the victory.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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Without their alternate selves to tug at them, these characters would be dull, dull, dull.—
Katy Waldman,
The New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The council recently appointed Roberts to fill a vacant seat.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
13 Mar. 2025
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Tourists will still come by the thousands to admire the monuments, even if some of the big stone buildings turn vacant, like the ruins of the Roman Forum.—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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,
13 Mar. 2025
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Boston Metal The key to the success of the recent test that led to the creation of a ton of molten metal is Boston Metal's inert anode which can drive the electrical process in the reactor without degrading.—
Michael Franco,
New Atlas,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Rheinmetall, the German defense giant once controlled by the Third Reich, is considering acquiring one of Volkswagen's soon-to-be idle plants, exploring ways to repurpose existing automotive infrastructure for military production.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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People who have lots of weak ties, who make eye contact and idle chitchat with baristas and neighbors, feel happier than those who don’t, her studies find.—
Olga Khazan,
Vox,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactive. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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