inoperative

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv How to pronounce inoperative (audio)
Definition of inoperativenext
1
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
2
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
3
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
  1. dormant
  2. malfunctioning
  3. invalid
  4. off
  5. inoperable
  6. null
  7. vacant
  8. down
Adjective
  • Her team has dug up living anthrax samples that may have been dormant for 80 years in previous research.
    — RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026
  • If your crepe myrtles aren’t receiving enough light, transplant them to a new growing location when the plants are dormant in winter.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • Watching the first episode of Ultimate Girl’s Trip is like riding in a malfunctioning time machine.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nuggets, wings, manchurian mix, lentils and chicken were stored above proper holding temperatures in a malfunctioning refrigerator unit.
    — Vince Basada August 7, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of malfunctioning
Adjective
  • The government maintains that the request for class certification came too late and is invalid anyway.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Kenzo had inclined his head over his invalid daughter and was staring at her intently.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of invalid
Adjective
  • Here, the two twin in camel coats in an off-duty moment at Paris Fashion Week 2022.
    — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • With a number of off days on the upcoming schedule and five healthy starters already in their rotation, the Yankees should be able to make that strategy work without taxing their bullpen.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 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
  • Some may instead house relatives or friends, be rented seasonally or remain vacant.
    — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • This is particularly true since the vehicle was vacant and there was nobody behind it at the light.
    — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of vacant
Adjective
  • The down-ballot race comes as insurers flee California, raise premiums and face backlash over wildfire claims, heightening stakes for homeowners, renters and businesses from Pacific Palisades to the San Francisco Bay Area.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Maine fishermen caught more than 78 million pounds (35 million kilograms) of lobster last year — a down year by the industry's recent standards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of down

Browse Nearby Words

inoperable
inoperative
inopportune
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Cite this Entry

“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperative. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of inoperative for Spanish Speakers

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