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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Recent Examples of sedentary
While students with behavioral health risks — meaning those with high electronic media use, substance use, a lot of sedentary behavior, and more — consistently had higher rates of insufficient sleep, the increases across groups were similar.
—
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
Several factors may be contributing to the higher risk for younger generations, the investigators said, including rising obesity rates, sedentary lifestyles, alcohol use and diets high in ultraprocessed foods.
—Dr. Ishani D. Premaratne, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The Takeaway Type 2 diabetes is a disease of high blood sugar levels, which is often related to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and underlying genetic factors.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Feb. 2026
May notes an overreliance on screens also increases the risk of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self harm and a sedentary lifestyle.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedentary
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
Several factors may be contributing to the higher risk for younger generations, the investigators said, including rising obesity rates, sedentary lifestyles, alcohol use and diets high in ultraprocessed foods.
—Dr. Ishani D. Premaratne, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The Takeaway Type 2 diabetes is a disease of high blood sugar levels, which is often related to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and underlying genetic factors.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Feb. 2026
May notes an overreliance on screens also increases the risk of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self harm and a sedentary lifestyle.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedentary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedentary
Adjective
-
For decades, road-trippers zoomed right past Wimberley, Texas—with its scenic vistas, untamed terrain, lazy tubing rivers, blooming wildflower fields, and tiny but tight-knit community.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
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Float down a natural lazy river.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Warm-Season Grasses These grasses are the opposite, growing in the spring after a dormant winter and flowering and setting seed in the fall just before winter returns.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
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Archaeologists finally detected the spot, hidden under grass and soil, where the shaft entrance lay dormant and waiting, perhaps for an opportune moment to surface.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That had Wade back on his own podcast Wednesday making his feelings known, with nothing sleepy about his enthusiasm, appreciation and respect.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Offensive philosophy The Warriors chucked up 52 3-pointers (and made just 16) on Monday in Utah, a puzzlingly high number considering the Jazz’s interior defense generally provides as much resistance as a sleepy puppy.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The idea of pushing for change in static news organizations from within seem fruitless.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, Zeisig treats the project like a beat tape, preferring static mats of sound and dynamically unyielding drifts over crescendoes and catharsis.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The news went wild on Twitter, with people meme-ing the hell out of the exceedingly dull headline.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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If your home is primarily filled with neutrals and feels a bit dull, try introducing a few colorful accents.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Taking minoxidil orally can support the hair follicle cycle and trigger anagen (the resting phase) prematurely.—
Jessie Quinn,
Flow Space,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Medical officers skied down the frozen halfpipe to tend to the slender, immobile frame on the snow.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This teal hip fracture bedpan has an easy-grip handle on both the front and sides for more comfortable use for fracture and immobile patients.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Our military has destroyed well over 20 inactive mine laying boats with more to come.—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
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The Celtics already were shorthanded entering Tuesday’s game, as key reserves Payton Pritchard (neck) and Nikola Vucevic (finger) both were inactive due to injury.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sedentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedentary. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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