inert

adjective

in·​ert i-ˈnərt How to pronounce inert (audio)
Synonyms of inertnext
1
: lacking the power to move
2
: very slow to move or act : sluggish
3
: deficient in active properties
especially : lacking a usual or anticipated chemical or biological action
inert noun
inertly adverb
inertness noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for inert

inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity.

inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut
inactive accounts

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
an inert citizenry

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

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

a supine willingness to play the fool

Examples of inert in a Sentence

an inert and lifeless body How does he propose to stimulate the inert economy and create jobs?
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
According to the study, 5 million tons of inert diamond dust could potentially cool the planet by almost 1.6 degrees Celsius in 45 years. —Devika Rao, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024 The 202-foot tall Vulcan rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:25 a.m. EDT Friday morning, carrying an inert payload into space on a mission that, if successful, would qualify the rocket to carry payloads for national security missions. —Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024 So inert citizens contribute to a balanced civic sphere that allows government to get things done. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 Unlike his terribly inert Countess Dracula, director Peter Sasdy finds an exquisite balance between character drama and alarming jolts within a larger story that plays closer to a Polanski-esque version of creeping madness than a typical gothic horror melodrama. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inert 

Word History

Etymology

Latin inert-, iners unskilled, idle, from in- + art-, ars skill — more at arm

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inert was in 1647

Phrases Containing inert

Dictionary Entries Near inert

in error

inert

inertance

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Inert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inert. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

inert

adjective
in·​ert in-ˈərt How to pronounce inert (audio)
: unable or slow to move, act, or react
inert ingredients in cough medicine
inert gas
inertly adverb
inertness noun

Medical Definition

inert

adjective
in·​ert in-ˈərt How to pronounce inert (audio)
1
: lacking the power to move
2
: deficient in active properties
especially : lacking a usual or anticipated chemical or biological action
an inert drug
inertness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on inert

Nglish: Translation of inert for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of inert for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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