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

Muñiz helped defend the office’s inaction — even though New York’s attorney general acted on similar complaints in that state and netted a $25 million settlement for victims there. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Judges’ inaction added to lawyers’ delays, leaving matters to stagnate for years on end. — Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026

Martínez Díez is certain that the cost of inaction is steep regardless of a brand’s price point. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

People reported incidents from 10, 20, even 40 years ago, and claimed to have regretted their inaction ever since. — Vanessa Bohns, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

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