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Glite Dictionary
🧪 No chemical change 😐 No response 🩺 Negative result
nonreactive

nonreactive

1 5.3
Someone or something that shows no response when something happens
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒnriˈæktɪv/
translation icon : no reactivo
  • Indeed, asking people to engage in a group discussion is a natural and relatively nonreactive means of obtaining concurrent verbalizations of mental processes.
  • nonreactive pupils

Examples

  • By the time we entered the room, his pupils were fixed and nonreactive, indicating a serious medical condition.

  • The ashen pallor of his skin and the nonreactive pupils suggested that he was in a critical state.

  • Plants might seem nonreactive to our eyes, but they are continuously growing and adapting in their environment.

Synonyms

clinical
vsnonreactive
32 6.5

Not showing emotion or personal involvement

is neutral but also includes lack of physical or chemical responses
unresponsive
vsnonreactive
20 4.7

Not reacting to touch, sound, or commands

also covers absence of physical or chemical reactions beyond failing to reply
expressionless
vsnonreactive
11 4.4

Having a face or way of acting that shows no feeling

covers lack of any reaction beyond facial or manner concealment
impassive
vsnonreactive
11 7.1

Not showing any feeling on the face or in the voice

is wider, covering absence of physical or chemical reactions too
emotionless
vsnonreactive
11 5.5

Not showing feelings on the face or in the voice

focuses on lack of any reaction including physical or chemical responses
unemotional
vsnonreactive
11 4.4

Not showing strong feelings

is stricter, also describing lack of physical and chemical reaction to provocation
unaffected
vsnonreactive
3 3.9

Not changed or harmed by something and not showing strong feeling

is about not responding to specific stimuli or provocation rather than general change
nonresponsive
vsnonreactive
3 6.2

Not reacting to a question or an action

also includes lack of physical or chemical reaction beyond simply not replying
insensible
vsnonreactive
1 7.3

Does not notice or care about things that upset other people

is about not showing any response, even when stimuli are noticed
affectless
vsnonreactive
1 9.3

A person who shows no emotion in the face or voice

also applies when there is no physical or chemical response to stimulus
unreactive
vsnonreactive
1 6.5

Does not show feelings or respond when someone tries to upset them

covers chemical reactions as well as other kinds of stimulus
unimpassioned
vsnonreactive
1 7.4

Calm and not showing strong feelings

focuses on no reaction across physical, chemical, or emotional provocation
nonexpressive
vsnonreactive
7.0

Showing no feelings on the face or in actions

is broader, applying to physical and chemical unresponsiveness too
impassible
vsnonreactive
8.3

Not showing any emotion on the face

also covers physical and chemical reactions that do not occur to stimuli
nondemonstrative
vsnonreactive
7.7

Not showing strong feelings or emotion

is about not responding at all, including physical or chemical lack of response
undemonstrative
vsnonreactive
7.6

Does not show feelings openly to other people

covers complete lack of reaction to stimuli, not only public restraint
undemonstrated
vsnonreactive
7.6

Not showing feelings openly so others cannot tell how they feel

also applies when there is no physical or chemical response to a stimulus

Antonyms

reactive
24 4.3

Quickly showing a strong response when something affects it

How Reactive

hyperreactive
  • Specialized
8.2
reactive
24 4.3
nonreactive
1 5.3

Surface Forms

nonreactive positive

Morphology

nonreactive = reactive (transparent) = non + react + ive

The emotional/behavioral meaning is a direct negation of 'reactive' and follows regular negation patterns.

Etymology

Nonreactive comes from non- 'not' and react 'to respond' or 'act back'. That is why we call a person or thing 'nonreactive' when they show no emotional or physical response to something that would normally make them react.