1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
some volcanoes have eruptive cycles marked by long stretches of dormancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inertia
lack of action or activity
a fighting force that could be roused instantly from dormancy to action
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dormancy
But by the early 2000s, Echinus slowly dwindled into dormancy.
—
Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
The dormancy period can depend on your state as well as the type of asset that is unclaimed.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
These hormones develop during dormancy and are a metaphorical gas pedal for plant growth.
—Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Reopened under local ownership after years of dormancy, Saddleback in Maine has quietly become one of New England’s most compelling alternatives.
—Caroline Tell, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
The dormancy period can depend on your state as well as the type of asset that is unclaimed.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
These hormones develop during dormancy and are a metaphorical gas pedal for plant growth.
—Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Reopened under local ownership after years of dormancy, Saddleback in Maine has quietly become one of New England’s most compelling alternatives.
—Caroline Tell, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
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The legal basis for keeping the suspension in place is itself now being questioned, and new court challenges are anticipated.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Both Marchment and Cooke had been suspended regularly at the time, piling up more than a half dozen suspensions.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In a field defined by bureaucratic inertia, moving from contract to flight in under a year is nothing short of a developmental miracle.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The Mini seems to change direction with almost no sense of inertia, biting into corners with terrier-like tenacity.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Close-ups on framed photographs depicting Devora’s younger, more graceful self offer less a sense of history than ambient suspense.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2026
-
In contrast to those comedy elements, Patrick Stump’s original score takes a useful straight-suspense approach.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With Tottenham just one point above safety, their reasons for inactivity in the January window are inadequate.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
After weeks of inactivity on the fainting front, Whoopi Goldberg has officially collapsed on The View once again.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
We cannot be cowed into quiescence.—
Brian Kolp,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
This is a region of gravitational quiescence about a million miles from Earth, where ESCAPADE will linger for a year awaiting a more favorable alignment between Earth and Mars.—
Morgan McFall-Johnsen,
Scientific American,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Alhasan said Gulf states must weigh the risks of joining the war against the cost of staying out, warning that inaction could weaken deterrence and make future Iranian attacks more likely.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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This is Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, a gripping portrait of a young prince caught between action and inaction, grief and rage, truth and deception.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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