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
Also inoperative the morning of the crash were the runway alignment indicator lights, which had not worked for more than three years.
—
Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
While the thrust levers were the final straw, other contributing factors included the lack of regulations prohibiting landings at Congonhas Airport with an inoperative thrust reverser, especially under heavy rain conditions.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Additionally, there was no regulation preventing landings at Congonhas with an inoperative thrust reverser—even on rainy days.
CENIPA, as a preventive agency, did not name those responsible.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Several election ballot scanners are currently inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
While the thrust levers were the final straw, other contributing factors included the lack of regulations prohibiting landings at Congonhas Airport with an inoperative thrust reverser, especially under heavy rain conditions.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Additionally, there was no regulation preventing landings at Congonhas with an inoperative thrust reverser—even on rainy days.
CENIPA, as a preventive agency, did not name those responsible.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Several election ballot scanners are currently inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperative
Adjective
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The latent varicella zoster virus lies dormant in the body after a person has chicken pox.—
Amy McGorry,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Planting Too Late The best time to plant fruit trees is in spring or fall, when the trees are dormant and the weather is still mild.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Its Care Team members replicate the roles of Apple Geniuses, helping people who come in with malfunctioning devices or other troubles.—
Julio Ojeda-Zapata,
Twin Cities,
24 Oct. 2025
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Another set piece involving a malfunctioning chair lift is excruciatingly tense.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Any unofficial or decorative mark—including, of course, souvenir stamps—violates that rule and can render the document invalid.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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However, the registrar of voters office said in March that the group fell 1,027 short of the number required because of signatures determined to be invalid or in need of information such as a date or an address.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On the right side of the room, a steel cut image is projected from the wall with fiberglass rods arranged in an off center trapezoid.—
Mario Rodriguez,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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And then the third Wednesday is an off week.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, nearly nine in 10 singles said being handy is attractive and think leaving small DIY projects dangling or broken fixtures untreated is a turnoff.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
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Attempts are already underway to deny accountability and reassert the same broken playbook of impunity.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And after signing Christian Braun to a five-year, $125 million rookie extension before the deadline last Monday, Denver is already up against it — with 11 roster spots penciled in and four spots vacant.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
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Carlsbad has owned the vacant land since at least the 1980s.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Bell decided that Liam would have an inoperable brain tumor, and called Clifton into his office to explain the decision, Clifton told Soap Opera Digest.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Accidentally deploying one is considered a serious mistake, as each slide can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repack and replace, and often renders the aircraft temporarily inoperable.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Even so, Posobiec is better positioned than anyone else to fill at least some of the void Kirk has left as one of the most important figures on the contemporary right.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
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This Promotion is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperative. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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