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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
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And inflation, which had bedeviled the United States and much of the global economy during the 1970s, was remarkably dormant during Greenspan’s chairmanship, something many economists had not thought could occur for so long a period.
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Some of the microbes may still exist in a dormant state more than 5,000 years after Ötzi's death, as his body sits at the South Tyrol Museum, the experts said.
Adjective
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The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.
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Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.
Adjective
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The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Northern California, claims the tech giant’s private arbitration order barring her from speaking about the company or promoting her bestselling book is invalid.
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Rather than defend the statute, Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a joint motion siding with the DOJ in its interpretation that the law is invalid.
Adjective
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For a team that began the season with off days coming at a premium, a brief stretch with two open dates is a respite from the wear and tear of a long season.
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His shot diet is already optimized for the league, his frame holds up in physical matchups and his off-ball activity gives coaches a willing piece to weave into screen and handoff actions.
Adjective
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In the New Century AirCenter crash, the Kansas Highway Patrol said a mechanical malfunction caused the left engine of the plane to become inoperable.
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The resulting flooding rendered the antenna inoperable.
Adjective
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And since the Lightning have regularly been void of a first-round pick, they’re used to spending a lot of time waiting to make their selections.
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The void being filled is not a very large one, either, Schaefer said, noting that only 2 percent of the flying public chose Spirit.
Adjective
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Now, owners face rising costs and limited revenue, leading to over 57,000 vacant units.
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When Vine Street Brewing opened in a long-vacant building in 2023, redevelopment in the district was still gaining momentum.
Adjective
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Even in a down year in which playing a rookie would have been more beneficial, Jones didn’t play much for the Pacers.
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Stock prices, meanwhile, ticked higher Wednesday after a down day Tuesday.
Cite this Entry
“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperative. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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