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
After initial infection, the virus lies dormant in the brain and, eventually, can lead to the destruction of infected brain cells.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The bill also includes restrictions for offshore pipelines and strict testing for pipelines that have been dormant for a number of years.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Millions of people around the world are estimated to have Chagas disease, a potentially fatal, parasitic illness that can lie dormant for years after the initial infection.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
And Cherry doesn’t need much to encourage her dormant psychosis.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The bill also includes restrictions for offshore pipelines and strict testing for pipelines that have been dormant for a number of years.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Millions of people around the world are estimated to have Chagas disease, a potentially fatal, parasitic illness that can lie dormant for years after the initial infection.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
And Cherry doesn’t need much to encourage her dormant psychosis.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormant
Adjective
-
In September 2022, schoolteacher Eliza Fletcher was kidnapped during an early morning run, and her body was later found near a vacant duplex.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Each apartment was different from the next, and the vacant unit (one daughter retreated to a Greek island) had views of the sea.—
Keith Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Downstairs, at the other end of the house, the kids were asleep in their beds, and Lacey was all the way across town in the hospital with their new brother.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
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While most people are fast asleep, one mother is already up and about—and her unusual morning schedule has gone viral on Instagram.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s some idle speculation in the films about where the Xenomorphs sit on the evolutionary ladder, and nearly every Alien story at some point deals with the question of whether synthetic creations care about their makers.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The display can smartly scale down to 1Hz when idle and now comes with a new anti-reflective coating.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
During the resting phase, hair stops growing and will shed, or fall out.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
10 July 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
-
Ferret out expired, empty and unused products that create clutter in the bathroom.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
-
This otherwise unexplained and unused key combination was the gateway.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Though his request to play in Napa was denied, his off-course involvement is already proving to be a unifying force.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
However, he was involved in an off-field accident that forced the Royals to shift their pitching plans.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There were flies in the kitchen and dead bugs in a utility sink.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Fine dead fuels throughout the fire area hit moistures of extinction while the heavy dead and down continued to smolder.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
If the account looks suspicious, inactive, or brand-new, avoid it.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The linebacker has primarily been seen doing rehab work on a side field across the last few weeks and was inactive last week.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dormant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormant. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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