inert
adjective
in·ert i-ˈnərt 
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
- dead
- dormant
- fallow
- free
- idle
- inactive
- inoperative
- latent
- off
- unused
- vacant
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
an inert and lifeless body How does he propose to stimulate the inert economy and create jobs?
Recent Examples on the Web Well, this particular black hole is almost inert, in a sense. 
Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 19 July 2022 The purity is worth noting because the mass production of colloidal silver can render the key ingredient inert and unstable. Ahmed Zambarakji, Robb Report, 21 June 2022 And yet, the movie would be inert without a strong supporting cast. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 13 June 2022 Studies have shown that fat cells aren’t inert, but very metabolically active. Alice Park, Time, 3 June 2022 With another movie night out of the question, and the Tesla’s techy features rendered inert, the forest around me came into focus. Maren Larsen, Outside Online, 18 Aug. 2020 Connecticut, the Uvalde massacre has prompted the seemingly inert Senate into negotiations over the shape of potential reforms. David Faris, The Week, 2 June 2022 And its clumsy, inert storytelling seems less interested in converting nonbelievers than in convincing us of Wahlberg’s piety. Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2022 This could have mitigated the political volatility of border crossings, therefore rendering inert Lukashenko’s alleged weapons of ‘hybrid warfare’. Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2022 See More
Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 19 July 2022 The purity is worth noting because the mass production of colloidal silver can render the key ingredient inert and unstable. Ahmed Zambarakji, Robb Report, 21 June 2022 And yet, the movie would be inert without a strong supporting cast. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 13 June 2022 Studies have shown that fat cells aren’t inert, but very metabolically active. Alice Park, Time, 3 June 2022 With another movie night out of the question, and the Tesla’s techy features rendered inert, the forest around me came into focus. Maren Larsen, Outside Online, 18 Aug. 2020 Connecticut, the Uvalde massacre has prompted the seemingly inert Senate into negotiations over the shape of potential reforms. David Faris, The Week, 2 June 2022 And its clumsy, inert storytelling seems less interested in converting nonbelievers than in convincing us of Wahlberg’s piety. Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2022 This could have mitigated the political volatility of border crossings, therefore rendering inert Lukashenko’s alleged weapons of ‘hybrid warfare’. Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing inert
Kids Definition
inert
adjective
in·ert i-ˈnərt
: unable or slow to move or react
inert gas
Medical Definition
inert
adjective
in·ert in-ˈərt
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
as in inertia
lack of action or activity the noticeable inertness of the campus on weekends, when most of the students go home Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inertia
- inaction
- laziness
- inactivity
- idleness
- quiescence
- lethargy
- sleepiness
- indolence
- nonaction
- dormancy
- languor
- sluggishness
- shiftlessness
- lassitude
- sloth
- lounging
- loafing
- listlessness
- lolling
- dallying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- activity
- action
- activeness
- robustness
- vivacity
- exuberance
- liveliness
- sprightliness
- briskness
- vibrancy
- occupation
- industry
- employment
- industriousness
- diligence
- peppiness
- assiduity
- jazziness
- assiduousness
- animateness
- business