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Glite Dictionary
exanimate

exanimate

9.9
Without life or any sign of feeling
  • adjective
  • /ˌɛksəˈnɪmət/
  • Archaic
translation icon : exánime
  • Her exanimate face showed no signs of emotion or awareness.

Examples

  • The exanimate body lay still on the ground.

  • The battlefield was filled with exanimate bodies after the fierce fight.

  • The exanimate form of the deer lay silent in the morning light.

  • After the long journey, he felt exanimate and drained.

  • The cold wind swept through the exanimate landscape, devoid of any signs of life.

  • Her once vibrant personality had turned exanimate after the troubling news.

  • The deserted town felt exanimate, with empty streets and darkened windows.

Synonyms

dead
vsexanimate
248 1.0

Still and quiet, without movement or life, like water

highlights complete absence of soul or inner animation rather than temporary stillness
lifeless
vsexanimate
28 3.4

Not moving and showing no signs of people or animals

emphasises lack of spirit or inner animation rather than only physical absence
inanimate
vsexanimate
11 5.3

Not alive and cannot move or feel

focuses on lack of spirit or animation rather than biological categorization
unanimated
vsexanimate
1 7.6

Something that is not lively and seems dull and without energy

implies complete deprivation of life or spirit more strongly
nonliving
vsexanimate
3.9

Not alive and does not grow or breathe

is more about absence of spirit or vitality than taxonomic status

Antonyms

lively
111 1.3

Having a lot of energy and enthusiasm

animated
30 3.7

Being full of life and energy

How Alive

vibrant
81 4.1
alive
∞ 1.0
exanimate
  • Archaic
9.9
inanimate
11 5.3

Surface Forms

exanimate positive

Morphology

exanimate = animate (semi-transparent) = ex + animate

The word is formed by adding the Latin prefix 'ex-' to 'animate', but 'ex-' here conveys a negating/‘out of’ sense that is less familiar/productive to learners than regular negative prefixes like 'in-'.

Etymology

Exanimate comes from Latin parts ex- ('out of') and anim- ('life' or 'breath'), the same root you see in animate and animal. So exanimate literally means 'out of life' and is used for something lifeless or without spirit.