1
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the inert, abandoned factories that are scattered all over that dying city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
a sleepy, inert reptile that is no threat to people when left alone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in inertia
lack of action or activity
the noticeable inertness of the campus on weekends, when most of the students go home
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inert
IEEE Spectrum, 23 July 2025
As a result, any phone placed inside such a bag becomes effectively inert.
—Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Otherwise praise is performance as progressive bills backed majorities of residents continue to die in the hands of our inert supermajority.
—Abdul Osmanu, Hartford Courant, 30 July 2025
The white dwarf is the star's exposed and extremely hot (but inert) core.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inert
Adjective
These layers are separated by an inert polymer spacer to help steer their interactions and sandwiched between reflective silver layers that help control how light from a green 514-nanometer laser energizes the device.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 July 2025
As a result, any phone placed inside such a bag becomes effectively inert.
—Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Otherwise praise is performance as progressive bills backed majorities of residents continue to die in the hands of our inert supermajority.
—Abdul Osmanu, Hartford Courant, 30 July 2025
The white dwarf is the star's exposed and extremely hot (but inert) core.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inert
Adjective
-
The drought put brush and other vegetation in the area into dormant, winter-like states, fire behavior analyst Kevin Thompson said during the Monday night meeting.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
12 Aug. 2025
-
What should be a tender, feminist-minded story centered on a young woman rediscovering her dormant childhood dreamer turns into a middling melodrama about being with a cute guy in desperate need of her rescue.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The goal is to evolve The Really Useful Group from a sleepy theater company into an entertainment powerhouse with a hand in everything from gaming to movies to consumer products.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
-
By the time morning arrives in the sleepy hamlet of Maybrook, Pennsylvania only one student, Alexy Lilly (Cary Christopher) remains.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Changes to the workflow, organizational structure and practices are almost always resisted at first, and focusing on the competitive advantage alone may not be sufficient to overcome the adoption resistance inertia.—
Vibhu Sharma,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Turbulent, yet stuck in a state of inertia, fighting off possible sanctions and regression on the pitch.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Interim manager Ray Montgomery agreed that plan made sense, despite the recent number of off days.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The game was suspended due to rain in the first inning and then completed the following afternoon, which was supposed to be an off day.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
And so to their kits, which more often than not are just not especially interesting: take this away strip, with its mid-2000s retro styling and pleasant off-white piping, but is just…quite dull.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
24 Aug. 2025
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Harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia can strip the finish and dull the surface, leaving the floor prone to scratches and other damage.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Implementation takes time, investment and change management, but the cost of inaction—both financial and reputational—could be far greater.—
Maxwell Alles,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Simply put, there are no good options, including inaction.—
Mercury News Editorial,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Perri did wear No 12, which is vacant, at Botafogo in the past.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
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Before the pandemic, just 5.9% of RN positions were vacant, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Data centers that remain inactive for more than 15 consecutive months have to be decommissioned, according to the ordinance.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
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The case is listed as inactive and pending after the state asked to keep the case open.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inert. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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