A child who sees the word inactive, and figures out that it means not active, is in the

(2)

: relating to or being members of the armed forces who are not performing or available for military duties

(2)

: optically neutral in polarized light

d

: biologically inert especially because of the loss of some quality (such as infectivity or antigenicity)

A child who sees the word inactive, and figures out that it means not active, is in the

Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for inactive

on inactive status as an astronaut

idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

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

passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

a supine willingness to play the fool

Example Sentences

Inactive people suffer higher rates of heart disease. it's easiest to catch snakes early in the morning, while they're still cold and inactive

Recent Examples on the Web The move to deactivate inactive accounts is part of Twitter’s ongoing changes that Musk has made since acquiring the company back in October. Maren Estrada, BGR, 9 Dec. 2022 Per the coroner's report, which EW has reviewed, toxicology testing found benzoylecgonine, an inactive metabolite of cocaine, in Heche's system, indicating past usage of the drug. EW.com, 7 Dec. 2022 An inactive metabolite of cocaine was found through a blood test taken when Heche arrived at the hospital, which the coroner’s office said indicates the drug was used in the past but not at the time of the crash. Taylor Romine, CNN, 7 Dec. 2022 Also inactive were backup center Omer Yurtseven, who is recovering from ankle surgery, and Jamal Cain, the forward on a two-way who played Tuesday night for the G League Sioux Falls Skyforce. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2022 However, a blood sample drawn in the emergency room did show the presence of an inactive cocaine metabolite, the report said, indicating that the actor had used the drug in the days before her death. Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2022 Benzoylecgonine, an inactive metabolite of cocaine, was detected in the blood that was drawn from Heche at the hospital following the crash the morning of Aug. 5, per a final autopsy report released Tuesday. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2022 Ehlinger served as the backup the past three weeks with Foles inactive. Nate Atkins, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Dec. 2022 Patrick Mekari injured his foot, forcing the Ravens to go further down the depth chart at LT with Ronnie Stanley (ankle) inactive. ... Noah Trister, ajc, 4 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inactive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of inactive was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near inactive

Cite this Entry

“Inactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inactive. Accessed 23 Dec. 2022.

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Last Updated: 12 Dec 2022 - Updated example sentences

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

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