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
During the dormancy of winter, gray stems and branches are visible, standing tall and proud even when cold weather casts its icy shadow over the once vibrant landscape.
—
Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
-
The trailer maintains 17 inches (43 cm) of ground clearance with help from its 3,500-lb dual-torsion-axle suspension and includes electromagnetic drum brakes for improved stopping power.—
C.C. Weiss
May 22,
New Atlas,
22 May 2026
-
Eastland rejects the findings and will fight the suspension, said Camp Mystic attorney Joshua Fiveson.—
Jim Vertuno,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
That cork includes political resistance, misinformation, short-term financial incentives, regulatory inertia and entrenched fossil-fuel interests.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
22 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
-
Who is murdered, why and Clare’s entanglement in the whole deal unfold over the remainder of the novel, featuring much tighter and more plausible plotting than your average suspense story.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
The project highlights growing international interest in elevated Latin American genre cinema blending political commentary, suspense, violence and social critique.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The SteamTech Elite also has important safety features, including an auto-shutoff that turns the iron off after eight minutes of inactivity (a chime alerts you when this happens).—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
-
Their inactivity ultimately cost them a chance at DeBoer, who became the New York Islanders head coach late in the season.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
We cannot be cowed into quiescence.—
Brian Kolp,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
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 23 May. 2026.
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