as in to relax
to spend time doing things that do not require much thought or effort; to be very lazy or inactive
I just spent the weekend vegetating at home. I'm worried that after I retire I'll just sit at home, watch TV, and vegetate.
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Recent Examples of vegetate
The program has documented more than 900 springs with flowing or standing water within Arizona’s Sky Islands region, 75 of them with moist ground only, 55 that are dry but still vegetated, and 272 that have dried completely.
—
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
About 30 minutes later, rescuers made voice contact with Blessing but were unable to reach him until about midnight, due to the steep and thickly vegetated terrain, Fish and Game said.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
All the turtles bought on impulse, vegetating in plastic lagoons.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
Why not vegetate?
—Jon Michail, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
About 30 minutes later, rescuers made voice contact with Blessing but were unable to reach him until about midnight, due to the steep and thickly vegetated terrain, Fish and Game said.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
All the turtles bought on impulse, vegetating in plastic lagoons.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
Why not vegetate?
—Jon Michail, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vegetate
Verb
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Acidic and fizzy drinks can increase pressure in the stomach and cause the muscle at the top of the stomach to relax, allowing acid to come back up.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
9 Nov. 2025
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Good food and drink plus a chance to relax will please you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Coverage decisions ultimately rest not with the White House, but with the states.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the video, the mako shark bursts from the water and lands on the bow of the boat, flopping around before coming to rest near the front of the vessel.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Former President Joe Biden also praised Pelosi, even though their relationship chilled after her role in efforts to pressure him to drop out of the 2024 presidential campaign.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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Other snapshots included one of Graham chilling in a pink sweatsuit in the backseat of a car, her $1,250 dress and heels in a pile beside her.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vegetate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vegetate. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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