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
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
At the same time, Israel has acted to render what is left of Assad’s navy inoperative.
—Bassem Eid, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2025
Although there several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania, no widespread voting problems had been reported by the late afternoon.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Perhaps most notably, both sides deploy decoy vehicles—either inoperative derelicts or inflatable fakes—to draw enemy fire away from real vehicles.
—David Axe, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
At the same time, Israel has acted to render what is left of Assad’s navy inoperative.
—Bassem Eid, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2025
Although there several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania, no widespread voting problems had been reported by the late afternoon.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Perhaps most notably, both sides deploy decoy vehicles—either inoperative derelicts or inflatable fakes—to draw enemy fire away from real vehicles.
—David Axe, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperative
Adjective
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An opportunity to wake a dormant gift.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Macy’s building sat dormant for over a decade.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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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The other client of Miami’s Rawsi Williams in the Bar’s petition, however, filed a Bar grievance after the first settlement funds check sent to her was declared invalid by her bank.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
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But Bird said Minnesota courts could do more to weed out invalid cases brought against patients.—
Molly Castle Work,
Twin Cities,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Mired in a terrible second-half slump, the center fielder went 2-for-3 with two sacrifice flies after not starting Tuesday and Wednesday and an off day Thursday.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Jayhawks will attempt to learn from their mistakes during an upcoming off week.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For her, the loss of $40 isn’t the real issue, but rather the broken trust and the strange turn the situation has taken.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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As the family unravels, Genevieve must summon the courage to save her broken family – and herself – but not without a cost.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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DeSantis appointed his former Chief of Staff James Uthmeier to the vacant attorney general post in February, giving him an incumbent-like advantage for the 2026 election even though voters did not pick him for the job.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Even Roosevelt, the city’s most cherished school, has been vacant since 2019 and fallen into disrepair.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For instance, in May 2025, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which manages the missions, successfully revived a set of thrusters aboard Voyager 1 that had been considered inoperable since 2004.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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Funds are available to help income-eligible households with natural gas, propane and/or electric bills and inoperable heating systems, a county news release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ballentine has experience at gunner, where the Patriots have a void opposite Brenden Schooler.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
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Only the Atlanta Falcons are set to spend less cash on players than their cap tally represents, according to Over the Cap’s math, while 26 teams have already agreed to deals that spread bonus money beyond the length of a player’s contract through what are called void years.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperative. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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