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 Americans who are less sedentary, Lamming notes athletes appear to be protected from the downsides of high protein intake because exercise sends extra amino acids into muscle instead of pathways linked to disease. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 More sedentary lifestyles, greater health awareness, and wider access to care have also increased the use of healthcare systems. — Runchana Pongsaparn, Fortune, 31 July 2026 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 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
  • That is not saying that her kids are terrible, lazy, ugly, addicted to TikTok, or caught shoplifting at Brandy Melville.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Music takes on a different purpose by mid-August—who isn’t feeling a little lazy and crooked by now, spiritually overserved and ready for a nap?
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of lazy
Adjective
  • Hooping now has become a form of reclamation, an outlet for recovering a childhood joy that sat dormant for years.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The development had gone dormant by the time DeFaria was brought in by his old colleagues to revive the project.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • During an allegedly sleepy period on the NBA schedule, the Lakers shook everyone awake with a blaring alarm.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Terrell, who is gay and doubles as a night-club promoter, brings in scores of drinkers to their perpetually sleepy pub, transforming it into Philadelphia’s trendiest gay bar.
    — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • Very static like this opera and this intensity and this mythological stuff and very heavy.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The companies successfully completed a static hot-fire test for the Stage 2 solid rocket motor of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of static
Adjective
  • Cucumbers Cucumbers turn dull, yellow, and bitter if allowed to ripen.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And the company’s newest bot software automizes of the dullest jobs in retail — counting boxes.
    — Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 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
  • Rather, the department says testing is recommended because inactive, or latent, TB often causes no symptoms.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Bazelak got the start when backup Jake Browning was inactive after suffering a back strain in practice against the Jets on Wednesday.
    — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sedentary

Nglish: Translation of sedentary for Spanish Speakers

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