FALLOW Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

fallow 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of fallow

as in dormant

not being in a state of use, activity, or employment the coal mine has been lying fallow since the drop in prices made it unprofitable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fallow

2 of 2

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 fallow

Adjective

Those mid-’80s years, so crucial to a 10-year-old kid forming his fandom, were fallow. — Sean Gregory, Time, 14 June 2026 The land would then lie fallow until the next rainy season so elephants could graze without threatening the farmers' livelihood. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026

Verb

District officials say that could force growers to fallow hundreds of thousands of acres. — Jeff St. John, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026 Continuing to cut farm water allocations is on track to fallow a million acres or more of irrigated farmland in the state, causing a devastating loss of jobs and economic productivity. — Edward Ring, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fallow

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallow

Adjective

The administration has also intervened on behalf of Sable Offshore, allowing the company to revive a long-dormant pipeline off the coast of Santa Barbara despite objections from California officials and regulators.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
During fall, many of the plants in your garden shed their leaves and go dormant in preparation for colder winter weather.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of dormant

Adjective

Then, thanks to a pair of off days built into the series, both the Game 1 and Game 2 starters could be available to throw in an if-necessary Game 5.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
The younger victim died in a dorm room and was 18, while the other died in an off-campus home and was 20.

— Adam Sabes , Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of off

Verb

The post-op row, however, is proving tough to hoe for a small business owner used to putting in hours well beyond overtime.

— Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
The $10 general admission during the Lilac Festival on weekends includes petting zoo, lilac maze, hoe down & jug band shows, lawn games, and lilac viewing.

— Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026

Definition of hoe

Adjective

In the general election, Krell won over two-thirds of the vote, beating out Republican challenger Nikki Ellis to fill Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty’s vacant seat.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Griffin’s sister is now refusing to build a home on the family lot that remains vacant, given its backyard would literally be a hop, skip and jump from the data center, Griffin said.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of vacant

Adjective

In comparison, when a bacterium lives somewhere where resources are abundant, its sporulation genes sit idle and unactivated.

— Canan Karakoç, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026
Field agents endure inefficient routing and prolonged idle times between assignments, and passengers experience frustrating delays at gates or baggage claims.

— Justin Newell, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of idle

Browse Nearby Words

fallouts

fallow

fallowed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallow. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fallow

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

heterodox

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes