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inert

inert

7 5.5
Not moving and without the energy or will to act
  • adjective
  • /ɪˈnɜrt/
translation icon : inactivo
  • But it all started with that sort of empty piece of land that is totally inert until you do something with it.
  • inert and passive
  • inert and lifeless
  • an inert body

And so it makes you kind of apathetic and inert a lot of the time.

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Examples

  • And so it makes you kind of apathetic and inert a lot of the time.

  • When the world becomes flat, lifeless, and inert, what can we do to recover or renew our vision?

    Academic text (1995)
  • In its present state it's completely inert.

  • The body lay almost inert on the floor, but the flesh rose and fell.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Society becomes static and inert when its outlook on life stops building up.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The Wisdom amulet lay inert beneath her hand, and nothing came to mind.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The smooth metal seemed inert, with no moving parts, nothing that Crusher recognized as mechanical.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Without transference, learning is sterile or inert and holds no utilitarian value.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The patient lay inert in the hospital bed, unresponsive to the doctors' calls.

  • During the winter, many animals remain inert, conserving energy until spring.

Synonyms

still
vsinert
1.0

Not moving or making a sound

implies missing energy or will to act rather than quiet calmness
stationary
vsinert
46 2.9

Not moving and staying in one place

focuses on inner lack of energy or will rather than fixed position
motionless
vsinert
41 3.0

Completely still with no movement, like a statue

can also include lacking energy or will, not only absence of movement
sluggish
vsinert
30 3.9

Moving or working slowly and with little energy

means lack of energy or will, often including complete stillness
immobile
vsinert
14 4.4

Not able to move or be moved, like a statue

describes inner lack of energy or will, not physical immovability
in stasis
vsinert
12 8.1

Not moving or changing for a time

relates to personal lack of energy or will rather than abstract suspension
inactive
vsinert
4 2.3

Not moving and not showing much physical or mental energy

emphasizes missing energy or will to act rather than just stillness
torpid
vsinert
1 8.2

To move slowly and have little energy or interest

focuses more on being motionless or lacking will than on slowness
unmoving
vsinert
1 2.2

Completely still and keeping the same position

stresses inner lack of energy or will rather than mere stillness
nonmoving
vsinert
1 3.0

Staying in the same place and not changing position

adds lack of energy or will to act beyond mere immobility
undynamic
vsinert
7.1

Showing little energy or excitement

has a stronger sense of being motionless or unwilling to act
moveless
vsinert
6.9

Completely still and not changing position

more about lacking energy or will than physical inability to move
nonmobile
vsinert
6.5

Unable to move or be moved easily

focuses on lacking energy or will rather than being hard to move
immoveable
vsinert
  • UK
4.3

Cannot be moved physically or in opinion

means missing energy or will to act, not physical fixedness or intention

Antonyms

81 2.7

Able to change or move easily

Compounds

inert gas
  • Specialized
3 4.0

A gas that does not react with other substances, like helium or argon

How Active

energetic
93 1.6
sluggish
30 3.9
inert
7 5.5
motionless
41 3.0

Surface Forms

inert positive

Etymology

The word inert comes from Latin in- 'not' and ars 'skill' or 'power', so it originally meant 'without power' or 'not able to act'. That's why when someone feels inert they are motionless or lack the energy or will to act.