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
For the rest of the country, the bloom period starts in spring about 6 weeks after rosebushes come out of dormancy and lasts through summer and sometimes into fall.
—
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2026
Ideal for planting in zones 3 through 8, the flowers need more than 400 hours of temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit annually to break dormancy and bloom properly.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
The answer is that dim residential lighting, at intensities typical of a porch light, suppresses mosquito dormancy more powerfully than even urban warming does.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
After 10 years of dormancy, the desert explodes with color, attracting visitors and pollinators alike.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2026
Ideal for planting in zones 3 through 8, the flowers need more than 400 hours of temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit annually to break dormancy and bloom properly.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
The answer is that dim residential lighting, at intensities typical of a porch light, suppresses mosquito dormancy more powerfully than even urban warming does.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
After 10 years of dormancy, the desert explodes with color, attracting visitors and pollinators alike.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
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The union announced on Friday that the suspension would continue until at least Tuesday.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
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Winkelman, who led the district attorney’s law division beginning in 2018, is appealing the suspension.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
One problem that no amount of money can fix is political inertia.—
Nancy A. Youssef,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
-
Repetition is so easily confused with stasis—with inertia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Noun
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This year, McVay avoided any pretense of suspense.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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And then, her par putt on 18 – measured at 2 feet, 10 inches – spun tantalizingly around the rim of the cup before dropping in and ending the suspense.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Scientists found that a protein called NOX4 naturally declines with age and inactivity.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Sitting Too Much Higgins said physical inactivity contributes to weight gain, nervous system activation, and poorer blood vessel health, which can increase blood pressure.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Our blanket of air expands when the sun is active and contracts during times of solar quiescence.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
28 May 2026
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We cannot be cowed into quiescence.—
Brian Kolp,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Lula also pushed back against Washington’s concerns over China’s expanding economic footprint in Latin America, arguing that the United States has ceded ground through inaction.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
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Rights groups say Bedouin herding communities are especially vulnerable as settlers seize remote land and outposts multiply, while new Israeli laws tighten control over Palestinians and critics fault global powers for inaction.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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