inaction

noun

in·​ac·​tion (ˌ)i-ˈnak-shən 

: lack of action or activity : idleness

Synonyms

• inertia

Examples of inaction in a Sentence

The protesters criticized the administration's inaction on environmental issues.

We must consider the consequences of continued inaction.

Recent Examples on the Web

Smaller companies operating across multiple jurisdictions often struggle to stay up-to-speed on the complex patchwork of state and city-level regulations, resulting in inertia or inaction. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2025

As a reporter covering state government and state agencies, Laura Schulte is busy working the hallways of the state Capitol in Madison, the campaign trail during Wisconsin elections and the woods, fields and streams of the state impacted by the actions and inactions of government. —Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 2 Aug. 2025

Silence, when paired with inaction or deliberate moderation, is never neutral in global politics. —Majeed Javdani, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

After a public outcry against the police inaction, Roberto Massucci, Rome’s police chief, went on the show recently to address concerns in this case. —New York Times, 22 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inaction

• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• extraction
• impaction
• infraction
• olfaction

Kids Definition

inaction

noun

in·​ac·​tion (ˈ)in-ˈak-shən 

: lack of action or activity : idleness