dormancy

noun

ˈdȯr-mən(t)-sē How to pronounce dormancy (audio)
Definition of dormancynext
1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity some volcanoes have eruptive cycles marked by long stretches of dormancy

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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

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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 The eggs enter dormancy and survive the winter, restarting the cycle the following year. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Flower Beds, Perennials, and Ornamentals Many plants are going through their summer dormancy, just like us, waiting for the heat to break. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026 Providing your lawn with extra water during times of heat and drought can help prevent some browning and dormancy, but ultimately, cool-season grasses will naturally go dormant in high temperatures. — The Spruce, 25 June 2026 There were missteps for Arista along the way, including the Milli Vanilli fiasco of the late 1980s, but the label would become a destination where artists would revive their careers after commercial step-backs or dormancy. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
  1. suspension
  2. inertia
  3. suspense
  4. inactivity
  5. quiescence
  6. inaction
Noun
  • The suspension is not absolute and there’s room for exceptions when executing a criminal warrant or working with partner agencies, according to a person who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive law enforcement operations.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 July 2026
  • The move puts a one-year suspension on construction of large-scale facilities in the state and is the first of its kind in the US, which is seeing a rapid AI infrastructure buildout to meet relentless demand for compute.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of suspension
Noun
  • Many companies resist due to inertia, mistakenly viewing leadership as universal or cross-cultural skills as mere etiquette.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • At idle, the engine has very little rotational inertia and low exhaust flow, so even small restrictions or pressure-wave disturbances can affect combustion stability.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026
Definition of inertia
Noun
  • Real horror exists without suspense, without thrills, without any physical release.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
  • In film scores, its low tones helped create suspense, grandeur, danger, or emotional weight.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026
Definition of suspense
Noun
  • Type 2 more typically develops later in life, usually due to a combination of factors like genetics, excess weight, physical inactivity and age.
    — Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 7 July 2026
  • And the inactivity would have driven every last person reading this insane.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of inactivity
Noun
  • Our blanket of air expands when the sun is active and contracts during times of solar quiescence.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 May 2026
  • We cannot be cowed into quiescence.
    — Brian Kolp, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of quiescence
Noun
  • Trump was expected to sign the housing bill at Capitol Hill during a ceremony in June, but abruptly canceled in protest over the Senate’s inaction in passing his election legislation, the SAVE America Act.
    — Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026
  • The precise magnitude of harms remains debated, but uncertainty is not an argument for inaction.
    — Paul Jester, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
Definition of inaction

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dormancies
dormancy
dormant
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Cite this Entry

“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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