Thesaurus

passive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of passive

receiving or enduring without offering resistance

The union rank and file were surprisingly passive about the givebacks in the new labor contract.

Synonyms of passive

acquiescent, nonresistant, resigned, tolerant, tolerating, unresistant, yielding

Words Related to passive

forbearing, impassive, long-suffering, patient, stoic (or stoical), uncomplaining

agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, docile, guidable, obedient, pliable, pliant, subordinate, tractable, willing

obeisant, submissive, surrendering

amiable, obliging

slavish, subservient

disciplined, governable, manageable

apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive

Near Antonyms of passive

contrary, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, insurgent, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward

balky, perverse, wayward, wrongheaded

headstrong, willful (or wilful)

undisciplined, unmanageable

dissident, nonconformist

Antonyms of passive

protesting, resistant, resisting, unyielding

Synonym Discussion of passive

inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity. inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

- on inactive status as an astronaut
- inactive accounts

idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

- workers were idle in the fields

inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity.

- inert ingredients in drugs
- an inert citizenry

passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

- passive resistance

supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

- a supine willingness to play the fool

Learn More about passive

See words that rhyme with passive Dictionary: Definition of passive Medical Dictionary: Definition of passive Spanish Central: Translation of passive Nglish: Translation of passive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of passive for Arabic speakers

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