inert

adjective

i-ˈnərt How to pronounce inert (audio)
Definition of inertnext
1
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment the inert, abandoned factories that are scattered all over that dying city

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sleepy
slow to move or act a sleepy, inert reptile that is no threat to people when left alone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word inert different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of inert are idle, inactive, passive, and supine. While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," 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 would idle be a good substitute for inert?

The words idle and inert can be used in similar contexts, but idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

In what contexts can inactive take the place of inert?

While in some cases nearly identical to inert, inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut
inactive accounts

When can passive be used instead of inert?

The words passive and inert 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 could supine be used to replace inert?

While the synonyms supine and inert are close in meaning, 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 inert The offense was inert under his direction, recording just one first down in two series. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 Creating life anew, breathing life into something that is inert, is fascinating to me. — ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026 And yet, more often than not, modern-day biopic films are disappointments, inert movies that fall into the same narrative traps, leaving audiences cold. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2026 Her face is painted smoothly, almost inert, while the water around her breaks into choppy strokes. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inert
  1. dormant
  2. sleepy
  3. off
  4. dull
  5. vacant
  6. inactive
  7. idle
  8. quiescent
Adjective
  • It was shut down in 2008 and has sat dormant since, contaminated by hazardous chemicals in the ground that GM never cleaned up.
    — Greta Reich, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • While the Anaheim Ducks, located a stone’s throw from Angel Stadium, are in the midst of a massive refurbishment project, the area surrounding the baseball stadium is largely dormant.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • The kids were tucked in by his side, still sleepy from staying up the night before watching TV.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bonds are the sleepy corner of the markets, with yields typically moving a few hundredths of a percentage point.
    — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • The arrival of Marmoush, a springy runner who is dangerous on the break and dynamic with his off-ball movement, helped reinforce a bolder new approach.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Diaz tacked on an RBI single in the ninth off rookie Bradley Hanner as the Astros scored six runs against New York's bullpen.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of off
Adjective
  • In recent studies by AccuWeather experts, excessive rainfall can contribute to insect and fungus damage in parts of Pennsylvania, which may lead to duller colors and earlier leaf drop.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The city is flooded with dull and uninteresting structures clad in the material.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Per the current listing, the site is now vacant and shovel-ready for building out a seven-bedroom, seven-plus-bath behemoth, all connected by a private elevator.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The vacant 113,464-square-foot building sits at the northeast corner of Bowes Road and South McLean Boulevard.
    — Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of vacant
Adjective
  • Both Russia and China have tested missiles that destroy satellites; a Russian test in 2021 shattered an inactive satellite into more than a thousand pieces.
    — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
  • There have been periodic stretches when the Jayhawks were inactive.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of inactive
Adjective
  • There are no staffing meetings, no waiting for someone to become available and no work sitting idle because the right person is on vacation or buried under a backlog of deliverables.
    — Charles Lew, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This results in more empty containers sitting idle on chassis throughout the ports.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of idle
Adjective
  • Experts believe the volcano is currently in a quiescent state, but researchers monitor it around the clock.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • For galaxies with a quiescent supermassive black hole, astronomers measure how quickly the stars tightly packed near the center of the galaxy are traveling.
    — Mary Ogborn, The Conversation, 25 June 2026
Definition of quiescent

Browse Nearby Words

inerrant
inert
inertia
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Cite this Entry

“Inert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inert. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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