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
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
Spores can also persist indefinitely in contaminated soil and may vegetate in grazeland, which could further spread the infection among South Dakota’s cattle.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
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
Spores can also persist indefinitely in contaminated soil and may vegetate in grazeland, which could further spread the infection among South Dakota’s cattle.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vegetate
Verb
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The Athmile Wide-Leg Sweatpants, which shoppers love for traveling, running errands, and relaxing at home, have a super-soft fleece lining and pockets big enough for smartphones.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Take time to relax and enjoy yourself.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Right guard Dominick Puni (knee) returned after missing Wednesday’s session, as did running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams who had that practice off to rest, as usual.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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City have four home games in this period, with a trip to Swansea in the Carabao Cup between Gameweek 9 and 10 being a natural opportunity for Pep Guardiola to rest some players.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once cooled, the pie needs to be chilled in order to set.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
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In addition, when the dough has time to chill, enzymes spring into action and develop more flavor.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vegetate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vegetate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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