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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Meanwhile, the current owner of the inn took her children to the farmers market in the square across from the dormant building every Saturday throughout their childhoods.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Apply a summer-weight dormant oil to your pachysandra during the crawler stages for more control.

— Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 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

In the years that followed, Urbagestion argued that Abascal’s retention of the apartment was invalid and that the contract’s timing was no longer applicable.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
An invoice valid today should not become invalid tomorrow because AI interpreted the same instruction differently.

— Nitin Gupta, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of invalid

Adjective

Then, thanks to a pair of off days built into the series, both the Game 1 and Game 2 starters could be available to throw in an if-necessary Game 5.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
The younger victim died in a dorm room and was 18, while the other died in an off-campus home and was 20.

— Adam Sabes , Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of off

Adjective

On Lanai, one of Hawaii's smallest main islands, storm damage rendered a harbor that supplies much of the food and fuel to its 3,300 residents inoperable.

— GENE JOHNSON, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
One factor contributing the repair delays – but unmentioned by the GAO report – is acknowledgement that the Washington shipyard at Bremerton on Puget Sound is built on a fault line and four of its dry docks are inoperable following an earthquake.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 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 the general election, Krell won over two-thirds of the vote, beating out Republican challenger Nikki Ellis to fill Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty’s vacant seat.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Griffin’s sister is now refusing to build a home on the family lot that remains vacant, given its backyard would literally be a hop, skip and jump from the data center, Griffin said.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of vacant

Adjective

Bass said her review would be a top down evaluation that scrutinizes the roles of dispatchers, supervisors and others involved in responding to reports of people behaving erratically.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
For a player that is worth so much, especially financially, to an organization’s success, Guerrero’s down year has led to some vitriol from the Blue Jays’ fan base.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of inoperative

adjective

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