SEDENTARY Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

sedentary

adjective

Definition of sedentary

as in lazy

not doing or involving a lot of physical activity They led a sedentary life after retirement, spending their days in front of the television.

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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 sedentary For Americans who are less sedentary, Lamming notes athletes appear to be protected from the downsides of high protein intake because exercise sends extra amino acids into muscle instead of pathways linked to disease. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 More sedentary lifestyles, greater health awareness, and wider access to care have also increased the use of healthcare systems. — Runchana Pongsaparn, Fortune, 31 July 2026 For sedentary individuals, simply moving the body may also help health more than just eating extra protein. — ABC News, 31 July 2026 However, public health research consistently finds that prolonged sedentary time, especially for long uninterrupted periods, is associated with poorer health outcomes. — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sedentary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedentary

Adjective

New York — A $15 million aquatic center with a six-lane pool, waterslides and a lazy river opened in Quincy, Washington, a few weeks ago.

— Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Mark Garcia, of Irvine, who won second place in the amateur category, found a mother harbor seal with her pup on a lazy afternoon at Treasure Island Beach.

— Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of lazy

Adjective

Hooping now has become a form of reclamation, an outlet for recovering a childhood joy that sat dormant for years.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
The development had gone dormant by the time DeFaria was brought in by his old colleagues to revive the project.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of dormant

Adjective

In a sleepy bay in Anguilla, the ship’s marina comes down, affording an opportunity to play with the water toys and swim to an inflatable trampoline.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
And then, slowly and all at once, battle is upon this once sleepy market town.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of sleepy

Adjective

Very static like this opera and this intensity and this mythological stuff and very heavy.

— John Bleasdale, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
The companies successfully completed a static hot-fire test for the Stage 2 solid rocket motor of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of static

Adjective

That’s because when the body experiences physical stress, including losing weight quickly, more hairs can shift into a resting phase and fall out a few months later — typically two to three months after the event, Rossi explains.

— Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 17 Feb. 2026
This is a condition where, due to stress or hormonal changes, the body puts the hair follicles into a resting phase.

— Essence, Essence, 19 Dec. 2025

Definition of resting

Adjective

Gripping your abs at maximum effort regardless of the task can make your torso feel like an immobile block.

— Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Sure, Lucky’s escape is nearly foiled by the fleet-of-foot federal agent, but the same could be said for dozens of similar encounters throughout the premiere, at more perilous junctures than a brief jog between immobile trailers.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Definition of immobile

Adjective

These viruses commonly remain inactive in healthy individuals but can reactivate during periods of illness or stress.

— Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Fish that spent more of their inactive, sleep-like periods at night generally lived longer, while those that showed more inactivity during the day — the fish version of an afternoon nap — tended to have shorter lifespans.

— Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of inactive

Browse Nearby Words

sedatives

sedentary

sediment

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“Sedentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedentary. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sedentary

adjective

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