1
as in inertia
lack of action or activity
the inactivity outside the school led me to think that it must have been vacation week
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Recent Examples of inactivity
Warming temperatures from climate change will likely lead to high levels of physical inactivity in the future, which could have significant public health implications.
—
Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026
Chloé Farand summed it up for the Guardian, noting the researchers’ projection of 500,000 additional annual deaths due to inactivity by 2050.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Physical inactivity rises alongside temperature.
—Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2026
Currently, only about 65% of people worldwide get enough exercise, but inactivity already contributes to roughly 5% of global deaths, according to the WHO.
—Victoria Kusztos, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
High blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity and smoking have long been lifestyle factors associated with higher dementia risk.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
By analyzing data on life expectancy, chronic conditions, disability, mental distress, and physical inactivity among adults 65 and older, home medical bed company Opera Beds identified where seniors have the best quality of life.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
With Tottenham just one point above safety, their reasons for inactivity in the January window are inadequate.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
After weeks of inactivity on the fainting front, Whoopi Goldberg has officially collapsed on The View once again.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026
Chloé Farand summed it up for the Guardian, noting the researchers’ projection of 500,000 additional annual deaths due to inactivity by 2050.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Physical inactivity rises alongside temperature.
—Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2026
Currently, only about 65% of people worldwide get enough exercise, but inactivity already contributes to roughly 5% of global deaths, according to the WHO.
—Victoria Kusztos, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
High blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity and smoking have long been lifestyle factors associated with higher dementia risk.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
By analyzing data on life expectancy, chronic conditions, disability, mental distress, and physical inactivity among adults 65 and older, home medical bed company Opera Beds identified where seniors have the best quality of life.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
With Tottenham just one point above safety, their reasons for inactivity in the January window are inadequate.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
After weeks of inactivity on the fainting front, Whoopi Goldberg has officially collapsed on The View once again.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inactivity
Noun
-
The film meticulously depicts inertia and zero-gravity movement.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Larger tires increase rotational inertia and lengthen the lever arm between hub and road, forcing the braking system to work harder.—
Bryan Rogala,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Serious Medical and Emotional Neglect Turner said Kaiko arrived in poor health, suffering from multiple medical issues and signs of prolonged neglect.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The law also explicitly states that allowing a reasonably capable child to walk to school or travel to a nearby park unsupervised does not, by itself, constitute neglect.—
Stephen Johnson,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Based on their inaction at quarterback so far, the Browns seem content to roll into 2026 with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The new security gates to curb fare evasion and improve safety (more than 80% of the crime at BART used to come from fare jumpers) were delayed for years due to budget inaction.—
Steve Glazer,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Heart muscles atrophy, or weaken from disuse, in adults who spend prolonged times in the weightlessness of space.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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And does a particular level of disuse have to be reached for a word to be dropped into the lexical dustbin?—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Spending healthy years in idleness isn’t good for you.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
-
DeJean, who recorded the game-changing pick-six in Super Bowl LIX, couldn’t comprehend postseason idleness.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The approaching Easter holiday often means an increase in the purchase and gifting of live rabbits, and a resulting spike in abandonments.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In spite of a seismic crossing of the technological Rubicon, an abandonment of the centuries-old deference to the naked eye, a codifying and calcifying of the most atomic-level building block of the sport, baseball mostly just looked like baseball.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inactivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inactivity. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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