1
as in sleeping
being in a state of suspended consciousness
the bears lay dormant in their den during the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vacant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the engine lay dormant in the garage until we found a use for it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dormant
Waititi never recommitted to Akira and the project has been dormant ever since.
—
Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
The group is currently dormant after Argent suffered a stroke last year that forced him to retire from touring, while White and Grundy have appeared only as special guests since 1997.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 24 June 2025
The Guardians can boast of solid pitching, but their offense has been dormant.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season, not when the lawn is dormant, for stronger grass that resists diseases.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
The group is currently dormant after Argent suffered a stroke last year that forced him to retire from touring, while White and Grundy have appeared only as special guests since 1997.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 24 June 2025
The Guardians can boast of solid pitching, but their offense has been dormant.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season, not when the lawn is dormant, for stronger grass that resists diseases.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormant
Adjective
-
Denver’s sideline contingent Court-side seats were mostly vacant on Thursday when the Nuggets opened Summer League play against Milwaukee.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
-
Manny Pacquiao The 30-year-old Barrios won the vacant WBC interim welterweight title in September 2023 with a unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugás.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Live 00:00 06:12 06:12 Officials give timeline of response efforts as floods impacted Texas 06:12 Kerrville Police Community Services Officer Chief Jonathan Lamb painted a somber picture of how the morning of July 4 unfolded as floods took over Hunt, when most residents were asleep.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
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Tolbert’s 10-year-old son was on a couch playing video games while his 4-year-old brother was asleep next to him at their home in the 3600 block of West Palmer Street in the Logan Square neighborhood, according to prosecutors.—
Laura Rodríguez Presa,
Chicago Tribune,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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The Brewers were idle Thursday and trail the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs by two games in the loss column.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
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Many of these homes, which were badly needed due to the ongoing housing shortage across the country, are now sitting idle on the market because high mortgage rates and growing economic uncertainty are keeping buyers on the sidelines.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Telogen Stage The telogen stage of the hair cycle is a resting phase, during which the hair doesn't grow, and the follicle is dormant.1 About 10% to 15% of the hairs on your body are in this resting phase at any one time, which typically lasts for a few months.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
13 Jan. 2025
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Green Bay could finish as high as sixth in the NFC if the resting Rams lose to the 49ers, potentially setting up a first-round matchup against the division-rival Lions.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2024
Adjective
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Relics like these dot the country from California to Pennsylvania: unused, unplugged oil and gas wells.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
7 July 2025
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But last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that pulled back $2.1 billion of that money, which was expected to go unused.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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No team could use an off day than the New York Mets.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Entering play Thursday, an off day for the Yankees, the reigning American League MVP had the highest average (.361), OPS (1.180), fWAR (6.1) and wRC+ (221) in baseball.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Since the assassination attempt on Trump that left the 50-year-old father dead, the Comperatore family has grappled with lingering and unanswered questions about what led to Comperatore’s death that day.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
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Jackson reportedly last checked in with dispatch on June 7 and was eventually found dead by rangers eight days later on June 15 in a camping tent on the Duck Hole trail, which is located in the Adirondack High Peaks, according to the Adirondack Explorer.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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But phone data indicates her device was inactive starting around 9:23 p.m. that night, Young said.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
8 July 2025
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Aim for the hole and spray into the nest during the evening when the wasps are inactive and aren’t out foraging.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dormant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormant. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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