idle 1 of 2

idle

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word idle different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of idle are inactive, inert, passive, and supine. While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

When is inactive a more appropriate choice than idle?

The meanings of inactive and idle largely overlap; however, inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut
inactive accounts

When could inert be used to replace idle?

The words inert and idle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity.

inert ingredients in drugs
an inert citizenry

When can passive be used instead of idle?

The words passive and idle can be used in similar contexts, but passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

passive resistance

When might supine be a better fit than idle?

While in some cases nearly identical to idle, supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

a supine willingness to play the fool

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 idle
Adjective
Up in the sky, the apartments in the gleaming towers of Billionaires’ Row sit idle while their owners decamp to one of their other homes, thousands of miles away. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 5 May 2025 But fintech is rewiring that bargain—moving idle cash into interest-bearing havens is now a tap away. Christian Catalini, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
As the livery cab idled in the middle lane, the woman inexplicably stepped out of the vehicle, lost her footing and fell onto the right lane, where she was run over by a passing Chevrolet Malibu driven by a 29-year-old man, cops said. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2025 What To Know To help reduce ozone formation, residents are encouraged to avoid idling in drive-thru lanes, and instead consider alternatives like sharing a ride or walking in. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for idle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idle
Adjective
  • Take a cutting a few inches long with several leaves to include a node (that brown bumpy thing which is a dormant growing point where the stem meets the leaf).
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 9 May 2025
  • Shingles develops in people who have previously had chicken pox, a virus that remains dormant in the body after acute infections clear up and can be reactivated later in life.
    Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • According to plans that seem about as fluid as a lazy river, this is the last year of the race at Pimlico, as it is currently constructed … or deconstructed.
    John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
  • About The Free Admission Offer The two water parks, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park are filled with rides, a lazy river, a wave pool, multiple dining options, and more.
    Megan duBois, Southern Living, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • It is now applied to anyone who has not visited the shower trailer and is desperately trying to bum a cig.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Grant invites Dina on the one-on-one, leaving the rest of the women feeling like this: Even though they’re bummed, the women keep their comments positive.
    Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Signs that frozen chicken has gone bad include freezer burn, an off smell or texture, and discoloration.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • Winston will be an example of an off the field leader Dart can learn from, which is likely the reason for Winston earning a two-year contract compared to Wilson’s one-year deal.
    Tyler Small, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Expect loafers, sandals, and football boots, all designed to evoke the spirit of travel—whether that’s lounging poolside or exploring city streets.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 9 May 2025
  • Next, a close-up of a young woman lounging on a beach in a yellow one-piece bathing suit.
    Eugenie Dalland, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • Inside the one-story cinder block building, three state health officials sat along a table at the front of the largely vacant room.
    Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 14 May 2025
  • Fast forward: After three years, the site remains vacant, fenced and undeveloped.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Tottenham will likely rest most of their strongest XI, with Villa viewing this as another critical moment in narrowing the gap.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • But Lee says the burden shouldn’t rest entirely on employees.
    Alice Park, Time, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Unsupervised models offer a scalable way to extract insights from data that would otherwise go unused.
    Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • After more than a week of oil shooting vertically out of an unused well off the coast of Louisiana, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday evening that the offshore well blowout — first reported on April 26 — has been controlled.
    Dan Ruetenik, CBS News, 5 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Idle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idle. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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