sedentary

adjective

Definition of sedentarynext
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 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 But remote work creates a particularly sedentary environment. — Jennifer Heimlich, Time, 27 July 2026 Regular exercise is one of the most powerful habits for protecting long-term health, and higher activity levels appear to reduce many risks associated with sedentary time. — Jakob Roze, Health, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sedentary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedentary
  1. lazy
  2. dormant
  3. sleepy
  4. static
  5. dull
  6. resting
  7. immobile
  8. inactive
Adjective
  • Traditional lazy Susans only work on round tables -- enter The Lazy Susan Revolution, a patented system designed specifically for long, rectangular and oval tables, bringing every dish within reach of every guest.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Most of my procrastination stems from being too lazy to expertly fold my clothes properly in my suitcase to avoid wrinkles.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of lazy
Adjective
  • Her team has dug up living anthrax samples that may have been dormant for 80 years in previous research.
    — RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026
  • If your crepe myrtles aren’t receiving enough light, transplant them to a new growing location when the plants are dormant in winter.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • SpaceX employs about 5,000 people directly in the Brownsville region and has transformed a sleepy border area into an aerospace powerhouse.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
  • This week, kids will learn some new dance moves, maybe even find a new favorite sleepy time song.
    — Parents, Parents, 31 July 2026
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • Unsure about which format would be most successful, the pair listed half of the figurines under static buy-it-now listings, and livestreamed the other half, both features still existing on the site today.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The company conducted a successful static fire test on June 29 in preparation for the launch.
    — Andrew Jones, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of static
Adjective
  • Moreover, in a study of 29 users of Melanotan II published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, some users reported their skin turning a dull gray color.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Still, her stellar performance can’t elevate the series beyond its dull monotony.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • While many accounts that post these videos get little traction, and seem to pop up and go inactive quickly, other accounts, like @MeganWright, @PumpScore, and @TaxExodus, rack up tens or hundreds of thousands of views.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of inactive

Browse Nearby Words

sedatives
sedentary
sediment
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Cite this Entry

“Sedentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedentary. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sedentary

Nglish: Translation of sedentary for Spanish Speakers

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