as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
the husband's feeling that their love life was in suspended animation while his wife lavished all her attention on the new baby
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Recent Examples of suspended animation
With the economy practically in suspended animation at the start of the pandemic, car sales plummeted.
—
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2022
One solution long championed by science fiction is suspended animation, or putting humans in a hibernation-like sleep for the duration of travel time.
—CNN, 28 Dec. 2020
With the agreements with Mexico and Central American in suspended animation during the pandemic, Title 42 is necessary stopgap that Biden will come under intense pressure from pro-immigration groups to reverse.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Nov. 2020
Four days after the election, the U.S. presidential race hovered in suspended animation Saturday as the long, exacting work of counting votes brought Democrat Joe Biden ever closer to a victory over President Donald Trump.
—Staff and Wire Reports, chicagotribune.com, 7 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for suspended animation
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2022
One solution long championed by science fiction is suspended animation, or putting humans in a hibernation-like sleep for the duration of travel time.
—CNN, 28 Dec. 2020
With the agreements with Mexico and Central American in suspended animation during the pandemic, Title 42 is necessary stopgap that Biden will come under intense pressure from pro-immigration groups to reverse.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Nov. 2020
Four days after the election, the U.S. presidential race hovered in suspended animation Saturday as the long, exacting work of counting votes brought Democrat Joe Biden ever closer to a victory over President Donald Trump.
—Staff and Wire Reports, chicagotribune.com, 7 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for suspended animation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspended animation
Noun
-
In 2021, Richardson tested positive for THC, which is the chemical in marijuana, during a post-race drug test, giving her a 30-day suspension and ineligibility for the Tokyo Olympics.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Penguins had been off since sweeping a four-game trip with a victory over Vancouver on Sunday, with forward Bryan Rust starting a three-game suspension for a check to Canucks forward Brock Boeser's head.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
It all sticks — every Dutch angle, inventively silly camera placement, and enthusiastic heightening of high-noon suspense.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
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Nominally in the spirit of ’90s from-hell thrillers, The Patient is a riveting character drama that offers some queasy white-knuckle suspense on the way to a thrilling climax.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suspended animation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspended%20animation. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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