1
as in acquiescence
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2
as in inertia
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of passivity
While some of the explanation for the result lies in Aston Villa’s strange passivity, Sunderland’s attitude to losing Reinildo and then going behind to Matty Cash’s 67th-minute long-range shot delighted Le Bris and the home support.
—
Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Dating Feels Ambiguous, And Confidence Is Declining The Match survey also showed that 63% of singles say there is more passivity in making the first move, reflecting uncertainty around expectations and traditional versus modern gender roles.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
One of the main problems, of course, is the physical passivity.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
News reporting and other media encouraged conformity and political passivity.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passivity
Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Dating Feels Ambiguous, And Confidence Is Declining The Match survey also showed that 63% of singles say there is more passivity in making the first move, reflecting uncertainty around expectations and traditional versus modern gender roles.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
One of the main problems, of course, is the physical passivity.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
News reporting and other media encouraged conformity and political passivity.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passivity
Noun
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Any group decision comes with a degree of acquiescence and a leap of faith.—
David Merritt Johns,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
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Would-be autocrats create environments of fear and powerlessness, using intimidation, overwhelming force or political and legal attacks, and other coercive tactics to force acquiescence and chill democratic pushback.—
Shelley Inglis,
The Conversation,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Funny, though, that this movie could be viewed as the flip side of Causeway, a quiet drama that’s also about a woman at a crossroads who snaps out of her inertia thanks to meeting a kindly stranger.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
8 Nov. 2025
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Where the first half of the 1600 conversation explored how young men are drifting toward the right through grievance, alienation and algorithmic content, this installment challenges Democrats to confront their own inertia.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
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In Killers of the Flower Moon, his Ernest Burkhart starts off as a mopey, weak-minded World War One veteran, eager to do anything for his godfather uncle (Robert De Niro), but there’s still a certain likability to his dim-bulb submissiveness.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Unfortunately for her, apathy doesn't appear to be part of the recipe for a long and successful career at PTMC.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
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After months of apathy and doubt, optimism is suddenly abundant.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Proxy advisors will continue to play a role, but their influence will no longer be supported by blind deference.—
Shane Goodwin,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
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His pretensions—riding around in a grand coach and continuing the weekly levees—as well as his administration’s notorious effort to enforce deference in the 1798 Sedition Act, fell flat.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The passage from the ordinary way of the world to the contemplative way of tea symbolizes humility.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
7 Jan. 2026
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Candidates from both parties use breathless prose, artificial deadlines and sometimes a dose of humility to add a sense of urgency to their appeals.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Spotlight The Welcome Demise of Climate Change Catastrophism Is the American Left finally waking up from its decades-long climate catastrophism stupor?—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
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Binging the best Thanksgiving episodes in a post-meal stupor is one way to cope with a less-than-lovely holiday.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Nov. 2025
Noun
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May the Spirit of God, who is truth and strength, and instils meekness and courage, sustain you.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
9 Oct. 2025
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Most Canadians want uncomplicated lives, a desire for calm that can be misinterpreted by louder people as meekness.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passivity. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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