1
as in sleeping
being in a state of suspended consciousness
the bears lay dormant in their den during the winter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vacant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the engine lay dormant in the garage until we found a use for it
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Recent Examples of dormant
Her plan, then, is to reinvigorate his dormant bloodlust.
—
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 10 July 2025
After blooming in spring, plants slowly move into a dormant period that lasts for about six weeks during the warmest part of summer.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2025
Organic materials like wood, leather, and fabric — which often remain remarkably preserved in the cold, low-oxygen depths — can begin to warp, crumble or disintegrate as dormant bacteria and fungi reactivate.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
The species of ticks in Colorado don’t like the summer heat and start to go into a dormant state when temperatures are in the high 80s, said Lisa Mason, a horticulture specialist and entomologist at Colorado State University’s extension office in Arapahoe County.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 10 July 2025
After blooming in spring, plants slowly move into a dormant period that lasts for about six weeks during the warmest part of summer.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2025
Organic materials like wood, leather, and fabric — which often remain remarkably preserved in the cold, low-oxygen depths — can begin to warp, crumble or disintegrate as dormant bacteria and fungi reactivate.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
The species of ticks in Colorado don’t like the summer heat and start to go into a dormant state when temperatures are in the high 80s, said Lisa Mason, a horticulture specialist and entomologist at Colorado State University’s extension office in Arapahoe County.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormant
Adjective
-
None of the 408 properties — occupied or vacant — at the center of the litigation have a certificate of compliance, according to the city's lawsuit, which also alleges hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid blight violations.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
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After hosting pop ups at Batch and elsewhere for a couple of years, Lit offered Fulco the vacant trailer space at Batch.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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These student-parents are balancing coursework with working full time, picking up their children from school and studying for long hours after their families are asleep.—
Rita Raichoudhuri,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
-
Sharon and Ozzy were asleep in the back of the tour bus.—
Erik Hedegaard,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Those with a relationship cash value of less than $250,000 can get 0.15% APY on their idle funds, while the largest accounts – those with $10 million or above in cash balances – can pick up 2.28%.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
22 July 2025
-
The music can sound surpassingly anodyne, built for commercials and idle, low-wattage daydreaming.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
During the resting phase, hair stops growing and will shed, or fall out.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
10 July 2025
-
Telogen Stage The telogen stage of the hair cycle is a resting phase, during which the hair doesn't grow, and the follicle is dormant.1 About 10% to 15% of the hairs on your body are in this resting phase at any one time, which typically lasts for a few months.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But other times, windows would be rearranged seemingly at random, with unused space and weird gaps that require you to fuss around and move all your windows around again.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
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This includes physical assets like IT hardware, networking equipment and office infrastructure, but also intangible assets like intellectual property, unused software licenses, real estate and even entire business units that no longer align with the company’s strategic goals.—
Albert Golukhov,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid wrapping leftover cut lemons in aluminum foil, which can react with the acidity in the fruit, causing an off flavor.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
-
No team could use an off day than the New York Mets.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Within months, however, Carter’s financial backer Lord Carnarvon was dead from a mysterious illness.—
Justin Stebbing,
JSTOR Daily,
24 July 2025
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The bright pink areas are cellular dead zones, where the T-Satellite service should automatically activate.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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Lifestyle factors associated with stress, such as an inactive lifestyle, may also contribute to high blood pressure.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Health,
17 July 2025
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Zepeda has an inactive guard, which will allow Stevenson to pepper him with shots around the high guard and down the middle.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dormant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormant. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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