Synonyms of inertia

inertia

noun

i-ˈnər-shə 

as in laziness

an inclination not to do work or engage in activities

the inertia that grips so many of the club's members is the reason why nothing ever gets done

Synonyms & Similar Words

• laziness
• idleness
• indolence
• sloth
• shiftlessness
• loafing
• lethargy
• apathy
• sluggishness
• lassitude
• supineness
• languor
• lounging
• listlessness
• lolling
• dallying
• goldbricking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• industry
• drive
• initiative
• industriousness
• ambition
• enterprise
• hustle
• energy
• perseverance
• diligence
• go
• vigor
• vitality
• exuberance
• assiduity
• animation
• robustness
• vivacity
• liveliness
• pep
• sprightliness
• briskness
• vibrancy
• assiduousness
• vim
• lustiness
• peppiness
• jazziness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inertia

Every game of this type requires learning the internal physics of how jumping and inertia work — Mario doesn’t exactly feel the way Sonic does in action, right? —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025

Every nation faces inertia, and breaking away from entrenched methods of production is challenging. —Matthew Putman, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

In the Gilded Age, a century ago, the U.S. was mired in political division and inertia, with absurdly high levels of income inequality and widespread distrust of institutions, especially government. —Anastasia G McAteer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025

In chronic disease care, this is known as clinical inertia: the failure to adjust therapy when a condition remains uncontrolled. —Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025