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 This group also spent less than two hours per day watching television, the study’s measure of sedentary behavior. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 Furthermore, modern sedentary lifestyles mean fundamental human movements are chronically undertrained, contributing directly to systemic stiffness and physical burnout. — Ginger Gentile, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 After the six weeks of sleep deprivation, however, the participants had gained about a pound, on average, and their sedentary time had increased by an average of 17 minutes. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 6 July 2026 As a caveat, the authors added that the study can't prove that sedentary behavior directly causes cancer and that the wearable devices only tracked behavior during a limited period. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sedentary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedentary

Adjective

In the nearly 90-second recording, Varela calls the customer service representative lazy, rude and racist and asks her for her name tag.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Summer could be the perfect time to savor just about anything—from the long, lazy days to the farmers-market-fresh flavors.

— Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026

Definition of lazy

Adjective

But only a few days ago, this sleepy community was struck by tragedy when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old father and Colombian national.

— Carine Hajjar, Washington Post, 21 July 2026
The formerly sleepy economies of suburban Austin, Texas and Syracuse, NY are getting two new semiconductor chip plants.

— Adrian Ma, NPR, 21 July 2026

Definition of sleepy

Adjective

Proponents emphasize that successful implementation requires a user-centric, evolving system, not a static, top-down repository, to truly normalize digital trust and reshape how a generation navigates their careers.

— Raj Ananthanpillai, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
During those hours, stores lower lights where possible, turn off the radio and display static images on television walls to create a less stimulating environment.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

Definition of static

Adjective

If cancer has spread to nearby tissues or organs, other signs may include difficulty or pain with peeing, loss of appetite and weight, dull backache or swelling in your legs, pelvic and abdominal pain, diarrhea and fatigue.

— Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
But to everybody else, 1966 was a dull tournament, characterised by lenient refereeing that meant the star players — particularly Pele — struggled to have an impact.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of dull

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

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
Prosecutors allege prolonged neglect According to charging documents cited by WNEM-TV5, prosecutors allege Casper was immobile, was not provided proper medical care or adequate nutrition, and was forced to live in unsafe conditions before his death.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 27 June 2026

Definition of immobile

Adjective

Jacobs was also inactive for two games — Week 12 with a knee injury and Week 18 as a healthy scratch.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
But while such incidents remain extremely rare, there are now more than 18,000 active and inactive satellites in orbit — a number that has more than doubled in the past six years alone.

— Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of inactive

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sedatives

sedentary

sediment

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“Sedentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedentary. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sedentary

adjective

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