1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
some volcanoes have eruptive cycles marked by long stretches of dormancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dormancy
Plants shed their leaves and prepare for winter dormancy, giving way to new life.
—
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Third generation: The HEMI revival After 16 years of dormancy, the third generation of the HEMI engine debuted in the 2003 model year as the Ram 1500's new powertrain.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Most plants have new growth during the longer days of spring and summer and enter a period of slowness or dormancy during shorter days of autumn and winter.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 14 Sep. 2025
Every week that goes by, the new plants will require less maintenance because the plants are headed to winter dormancy.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Third generation: The HEMI revival After 16 years of dormancy, the third generation of the HEMI engine debuted in the 2003 model year as the Ram 1500's new powertrain.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Most plants have new growth during the longer days of spring and summer and enter a period of slowness or dormancy during shorter days of autumn and winter.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 14 Sep. 2025
Every week that goes by, the new plants will require less maintenance because the plants are headed to winter dormancy.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
-
Viewers responded in droves to ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live in September, and not positively.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Helping to optimize the delivery of that bolstered output to the road is a suspension system born from the C5 Corvette.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
More modern power resources, like wind, solar, and batteries, don't involve inertia, because they are digitally controlled.—
Julia Simon,
NPR,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The inertia continues despite economic and regulatory headwinds across the world that threaten to impact sales and product strategies.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The combination of suspense and surprise is enough to keep anyone engaged.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The director continues to drum up the suspense when, after a Hollywood-style car chase that’s perfectly executed, the clan arrives at Iman’s childhood home in the mountains, where things definitely take a turn into thriller territory and several guns come back into play.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But this past July, Baldwin’s own civil suit was dismissed because of inactivity.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The bar was suspended due to inactivity.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Russian state propaganda is formidable, but sufficient economic hardship could disturb the quiescence of Russian society.—
Celeste A. Wallander,
Foreign Affairs,
9 Sep. 2025
-
On September 16, 2024, after a long period of quiescence in interest rate policy, the Federal Reserve finally lowered the Fed Funds Rate target – the first downshift in more than 4 years.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But that shouldn’t freeze us into inaction.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The governor issued the ban as a result of the inaction of state lawmakers over several months.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share