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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inactive
The site went inactive for years, directing visitors interested in purchasing the domain to send an inquiry to an @planetmind email address.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
The Patriots must make seven players inactive in Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup with the Seahawks.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
The city previously had a Senior Services Commission, but it was made inactive in 2007 and its activities formally suspended, according to a news release from the city.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Sochan's representatives have been given permission to seek a trade, while the Spurs have placed him on the inactive list for the past four games with what the team is calling a left quad strain.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
The Patriots must make seven players inactive in Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup with the Seahawks.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
The city previously had a Senior Services Commission, but it was made inactive in 2007 and its activities formally suspended, according to a news release from the city.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Sochan's representatives have been given permission to seek a trade, while the Spurs have placed him on the inactive list for the past four games with what the team is calling a left quad strain.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactive
Adjective
-
Her baffling disappearance has gripped the nation, leading many Americans to question how an octogenarian leading a sleepy life in the Southwest was taken while her neighbors were asleep.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In 2020, however, narcos invaded the sleepy rancho and robbed, killed and kidnapped with abandon.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Americans ignited a rivalry with Canada that had long been dormant aside from competitive play on the ice.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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Nigerian energy companies have ramped up oil production over the past year as the government intensifies its efforts to restart dormant refineries and monetize untapped gas reserves.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the astronomers suspect this kind of bursty young galaxy in the early universe may someday evolve into what's known as a massive quiescent galaxy in the modern-day cosmos.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
21 Nov. 2025
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All of that water weight exerts a steady downward pressure, suppressing rifting and magma flow, and keeping the subterranean region relatively quiescent.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Though no date has been set, the Dodgers will play three games in Washington from April 3 to 5, with an off day April 2 following a six-game homestand to open the season.—
Ed Guzman,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Both companies are known for their off-Loop musicals and are longtime favorites of the all-volunteer Joseph Jefferson Awards committee.—
Doug George,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But all work and no play can make for a dull chief medical officer.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
30 Jan. 2026
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People living in Bridgeville were excited to see dull pavement.—
Chris Hoffman,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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City officials hope to reverse that trend by revitalizing the downtown area, from attracting businesses to vacant storefronts to developing unused city sites, such as the corner lot burdened with the remains of Hotel Marysville, which was destroyed by fire in 2024.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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As the luxury building sat vacant, taggers armed with spray paint flocked there, hoping to leave a colorful mark on the city skyline.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Perhaps, on extremely long timescales, those heavier elements will sink to the center of the core, producing an inert center that slows the rate of fusion even further.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
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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,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Utah was idle on Saturday after falling to the Magic in Orlando on Saturday.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Most large fortunes are not sitting in piles of idle cash.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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