as in to relax
to spend time doing things that do not require much thought or effort; to be very lazy or inactive
I just spent the weekend vegetating at home. I'm worried that after I retire I'll just sit at home, watch TV, and vegetate.
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Recent Examples of vegetate
The program has documented more than 900 springs with flowing or standing water within Arizona’s Sky Islands region, 75 of them with moist ground only, 55 that are dry but still vegetated, and 272 that have dried completely.
—
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
About 30 minutes later, rescuers made voice contact with Blessing but were unable to reach him until about midnight, due to the steep and thickly vegetated terrain, Fish and Game said.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
All the turtles bought on impulse, vegetating in plastic lagoons.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
Why not vegetate?
—Jon Michail, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
About 30 minutes later, rescuers made voice contact with Blessing but were unable to reach him until about midnight, due to the steep and thickly vegetated terrain, Fish and Game said.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
All the turtles bought on impulse, vegetating in plastic lagoons.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
Why not vegetate?
—Jon Michail, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vegetate
Verb
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College students in Indiana will have time off from classes to can relax, pick up more hours at their jobs or jet-set off to a hotspot spring break destination (Florida, probably).—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
13 Feb. 2026
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The design hugs the ankle before relaxing into a gentle slouch through the leg.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Seahawks used a first-round bye to rest, heal and prepare, and then routed the 49ers in a divisional-round game before beating the Rams, 31-27, to advance to the Super Bowl.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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There have been no such incidents this year, but there has been plenty of on-court drama that only international team tennis — with home and away ties, and a slot just after a Grand Slam that sees many nations’ top stars resting — can provide.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Authorities offer chilling new details Blood found on the home's front steps was confirmed to be Nancy Guthrie's, Nanos said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
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Make and chill the panna cotta.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vegetate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vegetate. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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