1
as in sleeping
being in a state of suspended consciousness
the bears lay dormant in their den during the winter
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dormant
The supermassive black holes at the heart of galaxies, even when seemingly dormant, exert a powerful, quiet influence.
—
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
During the hot, dry summers, cyclamen become dormant; their foliage dies back.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
In some instances, a dead plant might be dormant—and this is a very important distinction.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the US and Russia, also known as START, expired last week, and with it, a long dormant fear of the threat of nuclear annihilation.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
During the hot, dry summers, cyclamen become dormant; their foliage dies back.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
In some instances, a dead plant might be dormant—and this is a very important distinction.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the US and Russia, also known as START, expired last week, and with it, a long dormant fear of the threat of nuclear annihilation.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormant
Adjective
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City officials hope to reverse that trend by revitalizing the downtown area, from attracting businesses to vacant storefronts to developing unused city sites, such as the corner lot burdened with the remains of Hotel Marysville, which was destroyed by fire in 2024.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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As the luxury building sat vacant, taggers armed with spray paint flocked there, hoping to leave a colorful mark on the city skyline.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Mary Gingles opened a neighbor’s unlocked door; the resident, Andrew Ferrin, was asleep in his bed.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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As evidence, the prosecution submitted a video of the woman in bed, allegedly filmed by Høiby himself while the woman was asleep.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The hydropower generators at Greers Ferry Dam had been idle all day, so the Little Red was very low, with just a hint of current.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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Utah was idle on Saturday after falling to the Magic in Orlando on Saturday.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This is a condition where, due to stress or hormonal changes, the body puts the hair follicles into a resting phase.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 Dec. 2025
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Taking minoxidil orally can support the hair follicle cycle and trigger anagen (the resting phase) prematurely.—
Jessie Quinn,
Flow Space,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And when the game was over, both coaches were eager to remark about the atmosphere and unused seats, Georgetown’s Ed Cooley was curious and UConn’s Dan Hurley exasperated that the crowd wasn’t more raucous on this Valentine’s Night.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
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Review linked apps and remove anything unfamiliar or unused.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Though no date has been set, the Dodgers will play three games in Washington from April 3 to 5, with an off day April 2 following a six-game homestand to open the season.—
Ed Guzman,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Both companies are known for their off-Loop musicals and are longtime favorites of the all-volunteer Joseph Jefferson Awards committee.—
Doug George,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Hunters and birdwatchers are advised to wear gloves when handling birds or feeders, to wash hands thoroughly after any contact, and to not eating birds that appear sick or birds that are found dead.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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The key is having at least one recipe in your culinary back pocket that’s so dead-simple, it can be made on autopilot using just a few simple ingredients that come together with minimal effort, cook time, or dirty dishes to deal with afterwards.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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How the Study Worked In the study, 72 inactive adults with panic disorder who weren’t taking medications as treatment completed a 12-week program of brief intermittent intense exercise or relaxation training.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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These are abandoned or inactive locations, often former mines, landfills or manufacturing plants, where toxic chemical waste was never properly managed.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dormant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormant. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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