1
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
it's easiest to catch snakes early in the morning, while they're still cold and inactive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
an inactive oil well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inactive
At least one of them will be inactive on game days.
—
Mike Kaye
june 16,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Health experts say people should choose an activity that fits their current fitness level, and people with chronic health conditions or those starting vigorous exercise after being inactive should check with a health care professional.
—
ABC News,
15 June 2026
This would be close to two launch sites previously used by the Navy’s Naval Ordnance Test Unit, Space Launch Complex 25 and 29, both of which are inactive.
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Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
However, Iran probably has a lot more influence over those militias than Hezbollah and/or the Houthis (who have been largely inactive of late), so this might not be the highest probability for renewal of the conflict.
—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Mike Kaye
june 16,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Health experts say people should choose an activity that fits their current fitness level, and people with chronic health conditions or those starting vigorous exercise after being inactive should check with a health care professional.
—
ABC News,
15 June 2026
This would be close to two launch sites previously used by the Navy’s Naval Ordnance Test Unit, Space Launch Complex 25 and 29, both of which are inactive.
—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
However, Iran probably has a lot more influence over those militias than Hezbollah and/or the Houthis (who have been largely inactive of late), so this might not be the highest probability for renewal of the conflict.
—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactive
Adjective
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Summer is a sleepy season for new cookbooks.
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On paper, New York State Comptroller is a sleepy job.
Adjective
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And inflation, which had bedeviled the United States and much of the global economy during the 1970s, was remarkably dormant during Greenspan’s chairmanship, something many economists had not thought could occur for so long a period.
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Some of the microbes may still exist in a dormant state more than 5,000 years after Ötzi's death, as his body sits at the South Tyrol Museum, the experts said.
Adjective
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Flights via the Gulf are being restored as the Iran conflict remains quiescent, but tourists are staying away from the region itself.
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Local Democratic politicians were strangely quiescent, despite a pre–Catahoula Crunch poll showing that nearly 80 percent of New Orleans residents opposed the deployment.
Adjective
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For a team that began the season with off days coming at a premium, a brief stretch with two open dates is a respite from the wear and tear of a long season.
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His shot diet is already optimized for the league, his frame holds up in physical matchups and his off-ball activity gives coaches a willing piece to weave into screen and handoff actions.
Adjective
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Besides toning color, this shampoo acts as a gentle clarifier, removing product buildup from the roots and hair that can make your hair appear dull and greasy.
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The practical step is small and dull, which feels about right.
Adjective
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For decades, the north campus had no resident population, remaining a collection of vacant deteriorating buildings and residential programs for physical and mental health recovery.
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Then, seven years ago, Cohen snagged a rare vacant plot for sale—modest in scale, at roughly half an acre, but blessed with pristine ocean frontage and perfect for the family escape of his imagination.
Adjective
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That way for Prosecco would involve creating the bubbles by conducting the second fermentation in an inert stainless-steel tank and releasing it to market much sooner than Champagne.
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If true, the role of the 1960s hard-selling ‘rabbis’ would seem anachronistic – until the next iteration of studio management turns out to be as inert as its predecessors.
Adjective
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That’s 10 years of farming around idle pump jacks and tabulating acres damaged by fluid leaks.
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Standard charging can slow things down if trucks have to sit idle for too long.
Cite this Entry
“Inactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactive. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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