inactive

adjective

(ˌ)i-ˈnak-tiv How to pronounce inactive (audio)
Definition of inactivenext
1
as in sleepy
slow to move or act it's easiest to catch snakes early in the morning, while they're still cold and inactive

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment an inactive oil well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word inactive different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of inactive are idle, inert, passive, and supine. While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut
inactive accounts

When could idle be used to replace inactive?

In some situations, the words idle and inactive are roughly equivalent. However, idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

When can inert be used instead of inactive?

The words inert and inactive can be used in similar contexts, but inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity.

inert ingredients in drugs
an inert citizenry

When is it sensible to use passive instead of inactive?

The words passive and inactive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

passive resistance

When is supine a more appropriate choice than inactive?

The meanings of supine and inactive largely overlap; however, supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

a supine willingness to play the fool

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 inactive If inactive voters, who still can cast ballots, are included, Democrats are still ahead. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025 One of the two other 747-8s appears inactive, and a similar jet was gifted to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2018 after failing to sell. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Yet the San Diego area has hardly been inactive on that front. —Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2025 While the TikTok account had been inactive for months, the last posts on the other accounts directly preceded Tinney’s death. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactive
  1. sleepy
  2. dormant
  3. quiescent
  4. off
  5. dull
  6. vacant
  7. inert
  8. idle
Adjective
  • Ultimately, what was once a sleepy and steady sector of the US economy is starting to become much more dynamic.
    — Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • The queen, who is currently competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, is near-singlehandedly turning the All Stars franchise from a sleepy series to a must-watch by playing the game strategically and having fun doing it.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 May 2025
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • Summer heat and dry conditions slow down turfgrass growth; drought-tolerant grass turns dormant, a natural protective response to adverse conditions.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2025
  • While most hosts of the parasite can control the initial infection with few if any symptoms, Toxoplasma remains in the body for life as dormant cysts in brain, heart and muscle tissue.
    — Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • But just because a stock has been quiescent for a while is no reason to disdain it.
    — John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • In the early 2000s, the U.S. invasion of Iraq united Iraqi Kurds in a quest to preserve their autonomy, and the rivalry in greater Kurdistan eclipsed the quiescent Kurdish rivalry within Iraq.
    — Behnam Ben Taleblu, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2017
Definition of quiescent
Adjective
  • For those who aren’t seeking beach time, the island also was praised for offering historic sites, golf courses and other off-shore activities.
    — Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • After an off day Thursday, the Arizona Diamondbacks come to GABP for three games.
    — C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Definition of off
Adjective
  • The bittersweet result didn’t dull a remarkable career and legacy for Kelly.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
  • But the drama can be very stolid, borderline dull at times.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Housing has emerged as a key issue in this year’s mayoral race as the city reels from skyrocketing rents and a dearth of vacant apartments, and there’s widespread agreement more units must be built.
    — Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
  • Hartford Prints! has taken over a vacant storefront next door, has broken down a wall and joined the two spaces.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
Definition of vacant
Adjective
  • The equipment consists of canisters containing Novec 1230, an inert liquid, which, in the event of a fire, would flood the projectors, suppressing the flames, while shutters would also automatically drop down to isolate the booth from the auditorium.
    — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • An active comparator might also be used rather than an inert placebo because of ethics.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Definition of inert
Adjective
  • In a busy warehouse, for instance, human workers and multiple robots performing different tasks—often from different vendors—need a unified system that ensures smooth collaboration, avoiding collisions and idle time.
    — Florian Pestoni, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • The result is that homes are sitting idle on the market, forcing sellers to offer price cuts to lure in buyers.
    — Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Definition of idle

Browse Nearby Words

inaction
inactive
inactively
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Cite this Entry

“Inactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of inactive for Spanish Speakers

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