as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
he has a latent talent for acting that he hasn't had a chance to express yet
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of latent
For Goebbels and the Nazis, propaganda was most effective when it was turned into an art—attempting to express what was already latent in the human soul.
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Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
The threat of a similarly latent attack — in which malware lies dormant in critical infrastructure systems, waiting for a signal to activate — is a real cause for concern in the sector, despite its best efforts and technological advances, experts and insiders said.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Use your latent magic to shift your public persona as the moon and Pluto harmonize.
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Usa Today,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
During the investigation, latent fingerprints were recovered from glass doors at the scene and later matched to Cavender, according to the investigator.
—
Raul Trey Lopez,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for latent
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
The threat of a similarly latent attack — in which malware lies dormant in critical infrastructure systems, waiting for a signal to activate — is a real cause for concern in the sector, despite its best efforts and technological advances, experts and insiders said.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Use your latent magic to shift your public persona as the moon and Pluto harmonize.
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
During the investigation, latent fingerprints were recovered from glass doors at the scene and later matched to Cavender, according to the investigator.
—
Raul Trey Lopez,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for latent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for latent
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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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.
Cite this Entry
“Latent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/latent. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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