1
as in inertia
lack of action or activity
the inactivity outside the school led me to think that it must have been vacation week
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Recent Examples of inactivity
Instead of forming quickly and slowly cooling into inactivity, some planetary cores may develop over billions of years while continuing to power magnetic dynamos.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
Reducing Pain Fascia can get tight from inactivity, a trauma like injury or surgery, or muscle or joint overuse.
—Scott Haak, EverydayHealth.com, 6 May 2026
People who are socially isolated are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity, and may be less likely to follow treatment plans.
—Olamide Asifat, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
The study examined each city’s ranking for quality of life and environmental conditions, life expectancy, smoking rates, obesity levels, food quality and safety standards, and physical inactivity for adults over the age of 70.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
Under league guidelines, a player in the concussion protocol must have at least 48 hours of inactivity and recovery and then hit several benchmarks without symptoms before being cleared to play.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Currently, states can take custody of financial accounts after a set period of inactivity — often as short as three years — even if the owner is still alive and unaware their assets are at risk of being transferred.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Factors that can worsen constipation include dehydration, low-fiber breakfasts, and morning inactivity.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 16 Apr. 2026
The flosser can turn itself off after a few seconds of inactivity.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
Reducing Pain Fascia can get tight from inactivity, a trauma like injury or surgery, or muscle or joint overuse.
—Scott Haak, EverydayHealth.com, 6 May 2026
People who are socially isolated are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity, and may be less likely to follow treatment plans.
—Olamide Asifat, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
The study examined each city’s ranking for quality of life and environmental conditions, life expectancy, smoking rates, obesity levels, food quality and safety standards, and physical inactivity for adults over the age of 70.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
Under league guidelines, a player in the concussion protocol must have at least 48 hours of inactivity and recovery and then hit several benchmarks without symptoms before being cleared to play.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Currently, states can take custody of financial accounts after a set period of inactivity — often as short as three years — even if the owner is still alive and unaware their assets are at risk of being transferred.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Factors that can worsen constipation include dehydration, low-fiber breakfasts, and morning inactivity.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 16 Apr. 2026
The flosser can turn itself off after a few seconds of inactivity.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactivity
Noun
-
Some of us had spent twenty years in the same career and were itching for a change but stuck in inertia.—
Parul Somani,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
-
Large majorities of people know what these passwordless credentials are and use them to log in to at least some accounts, but they are being held back by organizational inertia.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The following morning, on May 10, Pierrecius, 32, was arrested and charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm, according to police.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
John Cassidy explains why » More Top Stories Nearly two dozen kids living together in Los Angeles were found at risk of abuse and neglect.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The superb ensemble includes Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley) as the wife of a firefighter mortally wounded in the initial hours of the disaster and the fictional Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) as a scientist who warns political leaders about the consequences of inaction.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
14 May 2026
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But the needs of older adults are growing rapidly, and the cost of inaction will only increase over time.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
In 2015, an Angolan company called the Omatapalo Group bought the property, then overgrown and wild with disuse, made extensive renovations, and turned over management to Angolan hotel company OnTour, which opened Mumba Lodge in May 2025.—
Samantha Falewée,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Prior to redevelopment, the building showed significant deterioration after years of disuse.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Spending healthy years in idleness isn’t good for you.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
-
DeJean, who recorded the game-changing pick-six in Super Bowl LIX, couldn’t comprehend postseason idleness.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Despite a mentality forged by military service, her abuelo is kind and affectionate, while her straight-shooting abuela gives her the explanation she’s long been denied for her mother’s abandonment, without sugar-coating it.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
Expressed through a bold, imaginative aesthetic, the film invites adult audiences to connect with themes of abandonment, control and self-discovery.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inactivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactivity. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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