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

Consider applying an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil after pruning to smother scale and insect eggs to the dormant roses.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026
This barrier smothers dormant weed seeds and breaks down into rich soil by spring.

— Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of dormant

Adjective

Homeowners reported a swift meeting at which officers discussed a reorganization of their specific duties and the hiring of an elevator expert to fix the chronically malfunctioning, overloaded elevators.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Watching the first episode of Ultimate Girl’s Trip is like riding in a malfunctioning time machine.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of malfunctioning

Adjective

The New York Knicks star is launching a new firm with members of his family that will manage his off-court business while also representing other clients from the world of sports and business.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Weiss’ overhaul of the show interrupted a critical off-season period when correspondents typically try to file and finish a segment for the fall.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of off

Adjective

An inoperable air conditioning system and sweaty employees led to the temporary closure of one Fort Worth pizza joint in the latest round of city health inspections, according to the report.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026
Two of the spacecraft's three reaction wheels were found to be inoperable, while its cold-gas thruster system also experienced some loss of functionality.

— Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Aug. 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

In Austin, the vacancy rate for all affordable housing is nearly 16% with more than 4,500 vacant units, according to real estate data and analytics firm CoStar.

— Claire Rush, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In Austin, the vacancy rate for all affordable housing is nearly 16% with over 4,500 vacant units, according to real estate data and analytics firm CoStar.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of vacant

Adjective

Either squad could have plausibly won the 2021 Western Conference in a relatively down year.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
An investor sees the breadth divergence, watches the failed breakouts and notices the heavier down-volume, but then waits for a headline to confirm what the price data has already said.

— Thomas Hartmann, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of inoperative

adjective

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