INOPERATIVE Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

inoperative

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv

Definition of inoperative

as in dormant

not being in a state of use, activity, or employment be careful when putting your hands in even an inoperative garbage disposal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in malfunctioning

not being in working order looking for an expert to fix the inoperative grandfather clock

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in invalid

having no legal or binding force the decision of the state's supreme court has rendered the law inoperative

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of inoperative The agency has also probed 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles after reports of exterior door handles becoming inoperative due to low battery voltage, leading to instances of children stuck inside. — Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026 The Info menu indicates the right rear sensor is inoperative. — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2026 Of those who reported incidents, none saw a low voltage battery warning before the exterior door handles became inoperative. — Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025 But the speed came from all three levels of Green Bay’s defense, rendering Washington’s offense almost inoperative. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inoperative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperative

Adjective

The Unified Government and Eastside and its partners, the Arnold Development Group and Keystone Innovations, have hit an impasse over how much that prime real estate — which has been dormant since Indian Springs’ demolition — should sell for.

— Sofi Zeman July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
However, the court has lain dormant in the 30 years since it was created and has never been used before.

— Elise Spenner, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of dormant

Adjective

Edmiston arrived on a separate boat to help the group with the malfunctioning vessel, and denies having any role in Wells’ death, his family said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Oen Sujet’s catalog sounds equally like the product of a random number generator or a malfunctioning algorithm as of a deeply mercurial artist.

— Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026

Definition of malfunctioning

Adjective

But he was kept off the March 2024 ballot after Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that more than 9,000 signatures submitted by his campaign were invalid — enough to disqualify him.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Asylum cases must be filed within a year of entry in the country, and an invalid claim could lead to deportation proceedings.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of invalid

Adjective

As a state with an off-year major state election cycle, Virginia’s 2026 elections have been heavily dominated by congressional races.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
To answer your question, there was a time many decades ago when club teams versus national teams was a common off-season exhibition match.

— Torrey Hart, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of off

Adjective

For Griffin, even as community support and public awareness have grown, the health risks and business challenges are getting worse as time goes on and the air conditioning remains inoperable.

— Seamus Bozeman Follow, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
But Trump’s Energy Department has gone further, ordering several plants to stay open beyond their retirement date — even ones that are broken and inoperable.

— Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 13 July 2026

Definition of inoperable

Adjective

For one, null results—in this case, findings that are not unusual or revelatory—are still useful.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 4 June 2026
However, in the face of an increasing number of null results, most notably in studies published in late 2025, most physicists now agree that this sterile neutrino doesn’t exist.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of null

Adjective

On the edge, Dre’Mont Jones tallied a pressure in team drills, and Elijah Ponder had a down day relative to some recent practices.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026
Despite the Chiefs having a down year and missing the playoffs, Kelce was still productive last season.

— Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of down

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inoperable

inoperative

inopportune

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“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperative. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of inoperative

adjective

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