Definition of inaction
: lack of action or activity : idleness
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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 of inaction from the Web
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The inaction prompted the Children’s Action Alliance, the biggest proponents of the program, to urge that Ducey push for a vote on the bill.
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Supporters say shifting all costs to the city — and away from homeowners – would simplify a confusing policy and avoid the inaction that often comes when homeowners can’t afford their portion of the repair bill.
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Lasting impacts of overpumping If the state doesn’t take action, the consequences of inaction could be significant.
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They've gotten used to being protective of their positions, choosing the safety of inaction.
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The relative inaction illustrates how complicated the question of divestment has become for overseers of retirement assets as their liabilities rise and funding problems mount.
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As the humanitarian situation in Syria continues to worsen, many observers blame the inaction of the international community.
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The definitions were included to warn the clerk of the consequences of inaction.
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After several more years of inaction by the county, the Milwaukee Common Council in November 2016 rezoned county property on the north side of the dam as non-park land.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inaction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of inaction
1707
inaction Synonyms
Synonyms
dormancy, idleness, inactivity, inertness, nonaction, quiescence;
Antonyms
Near Antonyms
animateness, briskness, exuberance, jazziness, liveliness, peppiness, robustness, sprightliness, vibrancy, vivacity;
assiduity, assiduousness, business, diligence, employment, industriousness, industry, occupation;
Related Words
indolence, inertia, languor, lassitude, laziness, lethargy, listlessness, shiftlessness, sleepiness, sloth, sluggishness;
INACTION Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of inaction for English Language Learners
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: failure to do something that should be done : lack of action or activity
INACTION Defined for Kids
Definition of inaction for Students
: lack of action or activity
- Dove and Dusty were paralyzed into complete inaction.
- —Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain
Learn More about inaction
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See words that rhyme with inaction Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inaction Spanish Central: Translation of inaction Nglish: Translation of inaction for Spanish speakers
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