IDLE Synonyms: 163 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'idle' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of idle are inactive , inert , passive , and supine . While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements. // workers were idle in the fields

Q: When is 'inactive' a more appropriate choice than 'idle'?

The meanings of inactive and idle largely overlap; however, inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work. // on inactive status as an astronaut // inactive accounts

Q: When could 'inert' be used to replace 'idle'?

The words inert and idle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: When can 'passive' be used instead of 'idle'?

The words passive and idle can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Q: When might 'supine' be a better fit than 'idle'?

While in some cases nearly identical to idle , supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence. // a supine willingness to play the fool

idle 1 of 2

adjective

ˈī-dᵊl

Definition of idle next

as in dormant

not being in a state of use, activity, or employment the car was idle for two weeks while they went on vacation the company's competitors have not been idle in developing rival products

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lazy

not easily aroused to action or work an idle employee who always seems to be either on break or at lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

idle

2 of 2

verb

as in to lazy

to spend time doing nothing she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of idle are inactive, inert, passive, and supine. While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

When is inactive a more appropriate choice than idle?

The meanings of inactive and idle largely overlap; however, inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut

inactive accounts

When could inert be used to replace idle?

The words inert and idle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 can passive be used instead of idle?

The words passive and idle can be used in similar contexts, but 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 might supine be a better fit than idle?

While in some cases nearly identical to idle, supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

a supine willingness to play the fool

Examples 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 idle

Adjective

But commercial gold refineries are lying idle in the country, which suffered a severe economic crisis in 2022 that required a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund. —

Zinhle Essamuah, NBC News, 20 Oct. 2024 Cyber Protect offers many options for idle and disk-image backup. —

PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024

Verb

The union and company remain at an impasse, and airplane production at factories in the Seattle area and other locations has been idled, depriving Boeing of cash. —

Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024 Soon after the spill, Exxon Mobil halted operations at its three offshore oil platforms while Plains All American Pipeline idled the connected pipelines. —

Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for idle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idle

Adjective

The case was dormant until last year, when agents with Wisconsin's Justice Department began working with the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory to identify the remains.

Doha Madani, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Most went dormant in August and September, then the rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene made their way up here.

Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Nov. 2024