1
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
be careful when putting your hands in even an inoperative garbage disposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
looking for an expert to fix the inoperative grandfather clock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in invalid
having no legal or binding force
the decision of the state's supreme court has rendered the law inoperative
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 inoperative
The undercover sources were with him every step of the way, picking him up from his home, traveling to Nashville, and providing him with inoperative explosives, prosecutors said.
—
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
On Tuesday morning, several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Pennsylvania.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
By June 73 per cent of the country’s thermal power generating units had been rendered inoperative.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
All of that will be instantly inoperative as of January 21, 2025, if not right after Election Day.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
On Tuesday morning, several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Pennsylvania.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
By June 73 per cent of the country’s thermal power generating units had been rendered inoperative.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
All of that will be instantly inoperative as of January 21, 2025, if not right after Election Day.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperative
Adjective
-
Instead of coddling grass with irrigation and fertilizer to prevent it from going dormant, embrace this natural response.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Apr. 2025
-
This allows the rooted cutting a full growing season to develop before becoming dormant in the winter.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Here is one sequence of events: U.S. legislators and the Senate pass a resolution to declare tariffs invalid.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The association had two weeks to collect new signatures or correct invalid ones to make up the difference.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Last-minute fixes were still being made, and some Cubs players trickled into the clubhouse to put stuff in their lockers or work out on their off day.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Photos taken by the Associated Press on Sunday show broken windows and a damaged door at the front of the residence.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2025
-
In Okonkwo’s case, a broken wrist kept the former Arsenal ’keeper out for 11 league games.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
To reporters late Sunday evening and later on social media, Trump claimed the pardons are null because Biden had used an autopen rather than sign by hand.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Does her despondent demeanor and null motivation make Elsa herself an ideal pick to surrender her life?—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In her next fight, Shevchenko faced ex-women’s strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant flyweight title.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
And several blocks of tunnel below Chinatown, dug half a century ago for the Second Avenue subway, remain a vacant, unseen taunt.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The experimental Type 092 is now inoperable and is replaced by its more advanced successor, the Type 094, the Federation of American Scientists wrote in a report in March.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
-
State investigators found numerous violations there, including a rat infestation, medications not being properly administered, inoperable emergency pull cords in some bedrooms and neglected residents.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
However, the void years tacked onto it made Smith difficult to keep around, and the Lions ultimately parted ways.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
For the first time in its 157-year history, the Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a false start.—
Iliana Limón Romero,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperative. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share