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
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • The cause of the blaze has not been determined, but the company has acknowledged that it may have been sparked by a faulty dormant power line operated by Edison.
    — Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
  • Perhaps the Flyers believe that a certain segment of the fan base that’s been dormant through what has been a mostly incompetent decade will awaken with the return of one of the organization’s most popular all-time players now running the day-to-day operations at ice level.
    — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 21 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
  • Sadly, the Skirvin closed its doors in the late '80s and sat vacant for two decades.
    — Anne Roderique-Jones, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
  • Big cities like Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Houston, New York, Miami and San Francisco are also being hit by the effects of vacant office buildings.
    — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
Definition of vacant
Adjective
  • Pure gold is inert in Earth’s mantle and tends to stay there.
    — David Bressan, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Originally supposed to fly Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight, but payload switched to an inert mass simulator because of potential Dream Chaser delays beyond October launch date.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Definition of inert
Adjective
  • So, out of the $403 million payroll, $93.75 million worth of pitchers are idle (not counting Ohtani).
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 22 May 2025
  • Built for Efficiency: Save Smarter, Live Freer The Apex 300 leads the class in power efficiency, sipping just 20W in idle mode—ideal for stretching backup runtime.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 May 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 6 Jun. 2025.

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