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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inactive
Supermassive black holes that are consuming matter are categorized as active, whereas supermassive black holes that do not consume matter are known as inactive or quiescent.
—
Mary Ogborn,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Investigators suspected the animal had escaped from captivity because pythons are not native to the region, and wild snakes are typically inactive during March.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
Yet six of the wells Duncan was initially ordered to clean up remain unplugged and inactive 22 years later, and one of them is included on the state’s most recent list of orphan and abandoned wells.
—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Brockermeyer, an undrafted rookie from Miami, earned first-team snaps in an OTA practice where Neuzil was inactive.
—
Daniel Flick,
AJC.com,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Mary Ogborn,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Investigators suspected the animal had escaped from captivity because pythons are not native to the region, and wild snakes are typically inactive during March.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
Yet six of the wells Duncan was initially ordered to clean up remain unplugged and inactive 22 years later, and one of them is included on the state’s most recent list of orphan and abandoned wells.
—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Brockermeyer, an undrafted rookie from Miami, earned first-team snaps in an OTA practice where Neuzil was inactive.
—
Daniel Flick,
AJC.com,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactive
Adjective
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Unlike much of the group stage, Sunday’s game was a sloppy, sleepy affair, with South Africa relying on some heroic play from its back line to keep the game even.
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The phone achieved download speeds of 463Mbps and upload speeds of 39Mbps in 5G testing in sleepy suburban areas.
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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For galaxies with a quiescent supermassive black hole, astronomers measure how quickly the stars tightly packed near the center of the galaxy are traveling.
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As oil prices drop with the Iran war quiescent, US consumers might hope price rises could level off.
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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Now, owners face rising costs and limited revenue, leading to over 57,000 vacant units.
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When Vine Street Brewing opened in a long-vacant building in 2023, redevelopment in the district was still gaining momentum.
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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Reclaiming idle assets cuts waste, spend and unnecessary procurement at the same time.
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No, not the usual idle front-row niceties, but the scorching heat wave that has settled like a dense cloud over the City of Lights.
Cite this Entry
“Inactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactive. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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