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 Exercise helps individuals maintain lean tissue, Evans said, so in sedentary individuals, reducing protein intake could speed up muscle loss over time. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026 Lifestyle factors associated with higher risk include sedentary habits, being overweight, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and diets low in fiber and high in fat or processed meats. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 Adult mussels are largely sedentary, capable only of limited repositioning about their points of attachment. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 No one knows when a sedentary 75-year-old economist will kick the bucket or a derecho wind will blow the roof off a Roseville retirement condo, but there are actuarial records giving probabilities for either happening. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sedentary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedentary

Adjective

But whereas The Holdovers’s Paul Hunham despises his lazy, pampered students, The Debut’s Jerry Blankenbuehler has a determination to summon theatrical magic out of his meager cast.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
In places at low to moderate risk of fire, along the edges of flat valleys and lazy hills, growth in the FAIR Plan is ballooning, and it is being used to underwrite new suburban development.

— Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of lazy

Adjective

Most of the money is from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, and securities and trust holdings, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Fried adds that bare-root plants are typically shipped or sold wrapped in moist sawdust during their dormant seasons in the spring or fall to ensure optimal planting outcomes.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of dormant

Adjective

Talbots is on the move again after years of being among the sleepier brands in retail.

— David Moin, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Long Beach Island offers sandy Atlantic beaches, sleepy residential enclaves, family-friendly attractions, and classic seafood spots without heading out East.

— Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of sleepy

Adjective

Consumers are moving from manual browsing, multi-tab comparisons and static forms to conversational interfaces; multimodal interactions (voice, vision and text); and autonomous agents that can execute tasks directly.

— Pranjal Saxena, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Those formats translate well for boutiques, since clothes look better in motion than in static product photos and a styling tutorial doubles as a sales pitch.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of static

Adjective

They were illuminated as dull streaks of red, as the group’s flashlights were covered with red tape to reduce the light.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Prime Video continues to be one of the most baffling streaming services, from dull originals like Reacher to a revolving catalogue of films that never saw the light of an actual movie theater.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 19 Sep. 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

The electrons separate, become largely immobile, and also organize themselves into relatively orderly patterns.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
The magician—and apparently her family, down through the generations—is responsible for keeping this creature at bay by binding it to a living body that remains immobile.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of immobile

Adjective

Mike O’Connell, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said Showalter’s peace officer license was inactive.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
Alabama, North Carolina and Wisconsin began sending mail ballots to voters over the past week while the new system was still inactive.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sedentary

adjective

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