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
Late spring is prime time for fleas to wake up from their winter dormancy and start breeding.
—
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
Some seeds need a period of dormancy to sprout.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026
The timing of corpse flower blooms is difficult to predict, often following years of dormancy.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Small earthquakes had been rumbling since January, and in March, the 5,417-foot-tall subglacial volcano at the southern end of the country concluded 187 years of dormancy with the beginnings of a quiet lava flow.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
Some seeds need a period of dormancy to sprout.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026
The timing of corpse flower blooms is difficult to predict, often following years of dormancy.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Small earthquakes had been rumbling since January, and in March, the 5,417-foot-tall subglacial volcano at the southern end of the country concluded 187 years of dormancy with the beginnings of a quiet lava flow.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
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However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the veteran bench boss who took over in Vegas with just eight games left in the regular season was mad about the suspension of defenseman Brayden McNabb.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Weighing in at around 220 pounds, its eyes dotted around the room as its legs dangled in suspension.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Some of us had spent twenty years in the same career and were itching for a change but stuck in inertia.—
Parul Somani,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
-
Large majorities of people know what these passwordless credentials are and use them to log in to at least some accounts, but they are being held back by organizational inertia.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Maia Chance is the national bestselling author of multiple mystery and suspense novels, including her latest domestic thriller (featuring a tradwife), The Ravine, out now.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
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While Aliens is best known for its iconic action sequences, there is plenty of intrigue, suspense, and drama during the quieter moments.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Instead of forming quickly and slowly cooling into inactivity, some planetary cores may develop over billions of years while continuing to power magnetic dynamos.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
-
Reducing Pain Fascia can get tight from inactivity, a trauma like injury or surgery, or muscle or joint overuse.—
Scott Haak,
EverydayHealth.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
We cannot be cowed into quiescence.—
Brian Kolp,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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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
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The superb ensemble includes Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley) as the wife of a firefighter mortally wounded in the initial hours of the disaster and the fictional Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) as a scientist who warns political leaders about the consequences of inaction.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
14 May 2026
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But the needs of older adults are growing rapidly, and the cost of inaction will only increase over time.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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