Synonyms for inactive
ɪnˈæk tɪvin·ac·tive

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. inactive

   Idle in all uses rests upon its root meaning, as derived from the Anglo-Saxon idel, which signifies vain, empty, useless. Idle thus denotes not primarily the absence of action, but vain action — the absence of useful, effective action; the idle schoolboy may be very actively whittling his desk or tormenting his neighbors. Doing nothing whatever is the secondary meaning of idle. One may be temporarily idle of necessity; if he is habitually idle, it is his own fault. Lazy signifies indisposed to exertion, averse to labor; idleness is in fact; laziness is in disposition or inclination. A lazy person may chance to be employed in useful work, but he acts without energy or impetus. We speak figuratively of a lazy stream. The inert person seems like dead matter (characterized by inertia), powerless to move; the sluggish moves heavily and toilsomely; the most active person may sometimes find the bodily or mental powers sluggish. Slothful belongs in the moral realm, denoting a self-indulgent aversion to exertion. "The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth," Prov. xxvi, 15. Indolent is a milder term for the same quality; the slothful man hates action; the indolent man loves inaction. Compare VAIN.

   Synonyms:
   idle, indolent, inert, lazy, slothful, sluggish, trifling, unemployed, unoccupied, vacant

   Antonyms:
   active, busy, diligent, employed, industrious, occupied, working

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. inactive

   Synonyms:
   idle, lazy, inert, indolent, sluggish, slothful

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.7 / 3 votes

1. inactiveadjective

   (chemistry) not participating in a chemical reaction; chemically inert

   "desired amounts of inactive chlorine"

   Synonyms:
   static, dormant, motionless, still, nonoperational, passive

   Antonyms:
   reactive, open, gymnastic, progressive, nimble, active, going(a), astir(p), overactive, quick, bustling, sporty, spry, busy, hot, hyperactive, surface-active, agile, springy, counteractive, about(p), brisk, moving, acrobatic, activated, on the go(p), athletic

2. inactiveadjective

   (pathology) not progressing or increasing; or progressing slowly

   Synonyms:
   static, dormant, motionless, still, nonoperational, passive

   Antonyms:
   springy, moving, nimble, gymnastic, agile, on the go(p), busy, athletic, active, astir(p), acrobatic, open, surface-active, progressive, counteractive, about(p), hyperactive, spry, brisk, sporty, bustling, overactive, hot, activated, reactive, going(a), quick

3. nonoperational, inactiveadjective

   (military) not involved in military operations

   Synonyms:
   static, dormant, motionless, still, nonoperational, passive

   Antonyms:
   going(a), moving, nimble, reactive, busy, activated, active, gymnastic, springy, counteractive, sporty, athletic, open, about(p), hot, on the go(p), spry, overactive, hyperactive, astir(p), bustling, progressive, acrobatic, surface-active, agile, brisk, quick

4. inactiveadjective

   not exerting influence or change

   Synonyms:
   static, dormant, motionless, still, nonoperational, passive

   Antonyms:
   brisk, bustling, busy, moving, acrobatic, active, sporty, hot, on the go(p), progressive, going(a), gymnastic, counteractive, nimble, astir(p), hyperactive, agile, springy, spry, reactive, open, overactive, surface-active, about(p), quick, activated, athletic

5. dormant, inactiveadjective

   (of e.g. volcanos) not erupting and not extinct

   "a dormant volcano"

   Synonyms:
   passive, sleeping, dormant(ip), dormant, abeyant, still, hibernating(a), nonoperational, static, motionless, torpid

   Antonyms:
   active, activated, progressive, open, brisk, about(p), going(a), surface-active, springy, counteractive, hyperactive, athletic, sporty, quick, spry, overactive, on the go(p), moving, nimble, gymnastic, reactive, acrobatic, astir(p), bustling, hot, agile, busy

6. passive, inactiveadjective

   lacking in energy or will

   "Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredith

   Synonyms:
   passive, dormant, still, peaceful, nonoperational, static, motionless

   Antonyms:
   progressive, open, agile, athletic, springy, bustling, activated, astir(p), hyperactive, active, nimble, overactive, about(p), busy, quick, gymnastic, counteractive, sporty, hot, surface-active, brisk, spry, acrobatic, moving, on the go(p), reactive, going(a)

7. inactiveadjective

   lacking activity; lying idle or unused

   "an inactive mine"; "inactive accounts"; "inactive machinery"

   Synonyms:
   static, dormant, motionless, still, nonoperational, passive

   Antonyms:
   hyperactive, active, athletic, busy, about(p), activated, astir(p), hot, overactive, bustling, on the go(p), moving, going(a), quick, counteractive, gymnastic, springy, surface-active, reactive, nimble, spry, acrobatic, open, progressive, agile, sporty, brisk

8. inactiveadjective

   not engaged in full-time work

   "inactive reserve"; "an inactive member"

   Synonyms:
   static, dormant, motionless, still, nonoperational, passive

   Antonyms:
   nimble, on the go(p), progressive, hot, about(p), activated, moving, surface-active, hyperactive, active, counteractive, astir(p), open, reactive, busy, bustling, acrobatic, quick, going(a), gymnastic, springy, spry, overactive, agile, brisk, athletic, sporty

9. inactiveadjective

   not active physically or mentally

   "illness forced him to live an inactive life"; "dreamy and inactive by nature"

   Synonyms:
   static, dormant, motionless, still, nonoperational, passive

   Antonyms:
   active, acrobatic, surface-active, about(p), springy, athletic, nimble, activated, moving, spry, open, sporty, reactive, bustling, going(a), on the go(p), gymnastic, counteractive, hyperactive, overactive, busy, astir(p), progressive, quick, hot, brisk, agile

10. inactive, motionless, static, stilladjective

    not in physical motion

    "the inertia of an object at rest"

    Synonyms:
    static, smooth, motionless, placid, electrostatic, tranquil, soundless, unruffled, still, quiet, unchanging, silent, noneffervescent, nonoperational, passive, stable, dormant

    Antonyms:
    hyperactive, going(a), springy, overactive, surface-active, gymnastic, on the go(p), active, counteractive, athletic, quick, spry, open, busy, agile, astir(p), activated, about(p), acrobatic, nimble, hot, progressive, sporty, bustling, reactive, brisk, moving

Matched Categories

1. • Chemistry
   • Military
   • Pathology

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. inactiveadjective

   Synonyms:
   inert, lazy, indolent, idle, slothful, supine, torpid, sluggish, dronish, lumpish, passive, fabian

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. inactiveadjective

   Synonyms:
   inert, motionless, quiescent, dormant, inoperative, sluggish, stagnant, dilatory, latent, passive, torpid

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "inactive":

   idle, dormant, nonresponsive, inactivity, non-active, down, passive, unreactive, standby, sedentary, non-working, idly, inactivated

How to pronounce inactive?

How to say inactive in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use inactive in a sentence?

1. Dale Shepard:

   What that means is if you have a job where you sit all day long, we’re finding that even if you exercise for an hour or so afterward, you still have risk, so really, you have to think about both things - being active but not being inactive.

2. Josh Hartnett:

   The story is that Im some recluse or malcontent or something, but I never felt that way...Iwas never inactive, I was just doing other things.

3. Secretary Austin:

   Today, I have approved a plan by the Department of the Navy that will permit former Naval Academy midshipman Cameron Kinley to play professional football in the NFL, this plan will see Cameron enlisted in the Inactive Ready Reserve for the duration of Secretary Austin football career. Upon completion of his playing time, we look forward to welcoming him back inside the ranks as a naval officer.

4. Bridget Munger:

   Although river flooding has approached the two inactive coal basins at the facility, it appears there are currently no structural issues with those impoundments.

5. Roger Brown:

   Those candidates on that waiting list then, while that program is inactive, are not eligible to receive any organ offers ... but those patients continue to accrue waiting time, they do not lose their place in line.