inaction

noun

in·​ac·​tion (ˌ)i-ˈnak-shən 

: lack of action or activity : idleness

protesting the administration's inaction

Synonyms of inaction

• 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

Was their inaction a sign of asking prices around the league? —Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025

But there is also such a thing as being too good, where your own purity takes precedence over all else, leading to inflexibility and inaction. —Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025

Because of their inaction, families who did nothing wrong are paying the price. —Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Millions of Americans are now learning about these drastic increases from their health insurers, a direct consequence of Republican inaction. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 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