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
Groundhogs are 'true hibernators' While hibernation is common among many animals, groundhogs enter a level of winter dormancy that is more unusual.
—
Kate Perez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
After three years of dormancy, property types will be turned over to the state government and declared as abandoned, according to the state's unclaimed property website.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Brumation is a hibernation-like state of dormancy.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
But keep in mind blueberry bushes need a certain number of chilling hours after picking to prevent the buds from breaking dormancy prematurely, preventing freezing injury to the blueberry shrubs, Langelo says.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Kate Perez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
After three years of dormancy, property types will be turned over to the state government and declared as abandoned, according to the state's unclaimed property website.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Brumation is a hibernation-like state of dormancy.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
But keep in mind blueberry bushes need a certain number of chilling hours after picking to prevent the buds from breaking dormancy prematurely, preventing freezing injury to the blueberry shrubs, Langelo says.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
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At its core is a full suspension aluminum frame engineered for real off-road dominance.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
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The agency has not specified if the suspension of the police powers of Blanchette and Leslie are due to violations of its policies regarding pursuits and forcibly ending them.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Over that first act, however, the film also resists much narrative or thematic momentum, unfolding in glimpses and vignettes meant to underscore inertia and to emphasize production design.—
Ben Croll,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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By inertia, some vestiges remain of the awful weeks in 2022 when enemy forces stood at the edge of Kyiv.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The film merges family drama with atmospheric suspense.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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The current groups offer a lot less suspense in comparison, with Canada winning its group 73 percent of the time and USA winning 84 percent of the time.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Zoschak said Van Rootselaar had a year of possible inactivity in 2024, with no traceable posts.—
Lauren Fichten,
CBS News,
15 Feb. 2026
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These factors include obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, eating too much red and processed meat, and consuming too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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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Climate inaction is a financial liability.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Feb. 2026
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The cruelest trick our minds play on us is convincing us that inaction is safe.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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