inactive

adjective

in·ac·tive | \ (ˌ)i-ˈnak-tiv

Definition of inactive

: not active: such as

a(1) : sedentary

(2) : indolent, sluggish

b(1) : being out of use

(2) : relating to or being members of the armed forces who are not performing or available for military duties

(3) of a disease : quiescent

c(1) : chemically inert

(2) : optically neutral in polarized light

d : biologically inert especially because of the loss of some quality (such as infectivity or antigenicity)

Other Words from inactive Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about inactive

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Synonyms & Antonyms for inactive

Synonyms

dull, inert, lethargic, quiescent, sleepy, sluggish, torpid

Antonyms

active

Choose the Right Synonym for inactive

inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity. inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work. on inactive status as an astronaut inactive accounts idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements. workers were idle in the fields inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity. inert ingredients in drugs an inert citizenry passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control. passive resistance supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence. a supine willingness to play the fool

Examples of inactive in a Sentence

Inactive people suffer higher rates of heart disease. it's easiest to catch snakes early in the morning, while they're still cold and inactive

Recent Examples on the Web

This week Jones and Ford were inactive and Green was active. — Seattle Times Sports Staff, The Seattle Times, "Seahawks live chat rewind: Bruce Irvin to the Seahawks? Dissecting the loss to the Chargers," 6 Nov. 2018 A week later, as the team prepared to play in Jacksonville, Hill was a surprise inactive and then – to the surprise of head coach Marvin Lewis – elected to have season-ending ankle surgery. — Jim Owczarski, Cincinnati.com, "Jeremy Hill says goodbye to the Cincinnati Bengals," 31 Jan. 2018 Regarding the other social media platforms—Instagram and Facebook—only resort to these avenues if the person is not on LinkedIn or seems inactive there. — Liz Bentley, Marie Claire, "My Boss Follows Me on Instagram — What Do I Do?," 1 Apr. 2019 Without the antibodies, the CAR T cells become inactive. — Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scripps Research, AbbVie join in large cancer therapy alliance," 25 June 2018 Those guidelines may apply more to people who are both sedentary and relatively inactive; encouraging these people to exercise a little more could help them to avoid some of the negative health consequences of their sedentary behavior. — Alice Park, Time, "Good News: Sitting All Day Isn't As Bad For You If You’re Fit," 25 May 2018 Tight end Trey Burton was inactive against his former team after being added late to the team’s injury report because of a groin problem. — Andrew Seligman, The Seattle Times, "Bears come to grips with cruel end to breakthrough season," 7 Jan. 2019 The event was canceled a few days later after the group’s faculty adviser stepped down, rendering the group inactive. — Mari Uyehara, GQ, "How Free Speech Warriors Mainstreamed White Supremacists," 8 May 2018 The injury came at a difficult time, not only costing Don a chance at the world championship, but also leaving him inactive during the window for renegotiating precious contracts. — Lindsay Crouse, New York Times, "This Man Expects to Run a 2:50 in the Boston Marathon on Monday," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inactive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.