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 Sleep is fundamental to good health, and people who give short shrift to sleep are more likely to gain weight and be more sedentary. — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 13 July 2026 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 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

The Unified Government and Eastside and its partners, the Arnold Development Group and Keystone Innovations, have hit an impasse over how much that prime real estate — which has been dormant since Indian Springs’ demolition — should sell for.

— Sofi Zeman July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
However, the court has lain dormant in the 30 years since it was created and has never been used before.

— Elise Spenner, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of dormant

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

While laminate has a protective coating that shields it from damage, using the wrong cleaning products will etch away at this top layer and dull its shine.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
As the years go by, the hair shaft tends to thin out, resulting in strands that are more fragile, dull, and brittle.

— Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 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

When the district built the dam during the Truman administration, scientists thought the nearby Calaveras Fault was inactive.

— Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Before he was from20, Kim Raehwan was known simply as Raehwan and the main vocalist of BIGSTAR, a boy band under hitmaker Brave Brothers’ Brave Entertainment agency that slowly fizzled out after years inactive.

— Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 27 July 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sedentary

adjective

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