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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
An active comparator might also be used rather than an inert placebo because of ethics.
—
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The Trump administration has also said new Covid vaccines must undergo clinical trials with an inert placebo — meaning some participants would receive the new vaccine while others would receive an inactive substance like saline, to compare results.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 1 June 2025
Pure gold is inert in Earth’s mantle and tends to stay there.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Mercury, Mars and the moon appear essentially inert.
—Elise Cutts, Scientific American, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inert
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The Trump administration has also said new Covid vaccines must undergo clinical trials with an inert placebo — meaning some participants would receive the new vaccine while others would receive an inactive substance like saline, to compare results.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 1 June 2025
Pure gold is inert in Earth’s mantle and tends to stay there.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Mercury, Mars and the moon appear essentially inert.
—Elise Cutts, Scientific American, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inert
Adjective
-
As a measure of how dormant the rivalry is, the two teams have not faced each other since 2008 — a year before Thomas Muller, who will leave Bayern this summer as their record appearance-maker with 751 (so far), had even made his competitive debut.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
-
Before Thursday, the court case had become somewhat dormant since the judge had made initial rulings against Trump’s actions around Harvard student visas.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
Gilroy, which is usually a sleepy town, comes alive during the festival, as locals are joined by travelers from across California and the country.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2025
-
Quintessential sleepy Old Florida, towns here are oak-shaded and feature locally mom-and-pop diners and restaurants.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Some takeaways from a successful series win ahead of an off day Thursday: Mayer heating up Mayer hasn’t even been in the majors for a month, but the 22-year-old has already hit three homers and is finding his groove.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
-
Yet Shildt had a relatively rested back end of his bullpen and an off day coming up.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
-
Age Defense Retinol Complex 0.5 is no exception, which shines with its abilities to reduce the look of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and overall dull skin.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
In 1870, Mississippi legislators voted 81 to 15 to elect Revels to the Senate to finish the term of one of the state’s two U.S Senate seats, which had been left vacant since the Civil War.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2025
-
Earlier this month, Udoka was the subject of interest from the New York Knicks for their vacant head coaching position, one that the Rockets vehemently shut down.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Florida’s guard was inactive for around 75 years until DeSantis reactivated it in 2022.—
Siena Duncan,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2025
-
Others are still discouraged from the paring back of incentives for domestic productions and have been inactive.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
For companies with aspirations to list in the next 12 to 24 months, the current limbo is not a time to sit idle.—
Rene Musech,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
These are just 11-on-11 stats compiled by SNY's Connor Hughes, but this says Jaxson Dart isn't coming to work to accept a backup position and sit idle for a year.—
Geoffrey Knox,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
But just because a stock has been quiescent for a while is no reason to disdain it.—
John Dorfman,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
In the early 2000s, the U.S. invasion of Iraq united Iraqi Kurds in a quest to preserve their autonomy, and the rivalry in greater Kurdistan eclipsed the quiescent Kurdish rivalry within Iraq.—
Behnam Ben Taleblu,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Nov. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Inert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inert. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share