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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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 After years of dormancy, Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome is officially getting a new owner. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026 Depending on the time of year, that may take several weeks—or even a few months if the plant was purchased during winter dormancy. — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026 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 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 has been in place since August 4, and Kyrgios, 31, has not appealed it, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said Wednesday.
    — James Hansen, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Under changes implemented by his office, about 7,100 of those cases can now go through a temporary suspension process, which Fuller said has helped speed up investigations.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspension
Noun
  • Michael Hannan and John Freeman argued that the very features organizations build for reliability and accountability can generate structural inertia when conditions change.
    — ByLeonie H. Mattison, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The research above showed that distribution of sleep stages and the stage prior to waking, not duration, can impact the possibility of sleep inertia.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of inertia
Noun
  • Some have described this play as biting political theater and others as a suspense thriller or a twisted rom-com.
    — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Top genres included general fiction led the market at 27% of revenue, followed by science fiction/fantasy, romance, and mysteries/thrillers/suspense.
    — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspense
Noun
  • Many traders feel pressure to remain fully invested because inactivity can feel unproductive.
    — Brian Ferdinand, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • With the opponent’s next drive, plus media timeouts, or maybe Butker’s own offense stalling without a scoring opportunity, the inactivity adds up in real time.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of inactivity
Noun
  • Black liberation, no matter how distinct in its language, history, and practice, cannot be absent from any discussion of historical quiescence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Our blanket of air expands when the sun is active and contracts during times of solar quiescence.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 May 2026
Definition of quiescence
Noun
  • The author stresses the urgent need for better governance, strategic partnerships, and accountability to eliminate waste, as the human cost of inaction is too great.
    — Ryan Dewey Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Evan Curbeam, 29, was found dead near Fells Point in 2013; his father publicly criticized the city’s inaction the following year.
    — Joseph V. Sakran, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of inaction

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dormancy
dormant
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Cite this Entry

“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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