inert
Americanadjective
-
having no inherent power of action, motion, or resistance (opposed to active).
inert matter.
- Synonyms:
- motionless, lifeless, unmoving, immobile
-
Chemistry. having little or no ability to react, as nitrogen that occurs uncombined in the atmosphere.
-
Pharmacology. having no pharmacological action, as the excipient of a pill.
-
inactive or sluggish by habit or nature.
adjective
-
having no inherent ability to move or to resist motion
-
inactive, lazy, or sluggish
-
having only a limited ability to react chemically; unreactive
Synonym Usage
See inactive.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inert
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin inert- (stem of iners ) “unskillful,” equivalent to in- in- 3 + -ert-, combining form of art- (stem of ars ) “skill”; see art 1
Explanation
Something that's unable to move or moving without much energy can be described as inert. Wind up in a body cast and you’ll find yourself not only itchy, but totally inert. When motion is restricted or sluggish, or when something or someone appears lifeless, the adjective to use is inert. A dog who's playing dead is inert, as is a really boring movie. Or for those of you paying attention in chemistry class, you may have heard of inert gases — those elements that won't react with other elements or form chemical compounds.
Vocabulary lists containing inert
Anti-Antonyms: Words Without Opposites
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Languor Management: Synonyms for "Lazy"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
And Then There Were None
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These are fair questions the film never bothers to consider, instead favoring inert dialogue and needle drops that tell the audience when they’re supposed to be moved.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
The agreement with the United States aims to turn "cold, inert" resources underground to "a source of social and economic well-being for the people of Venezuela," she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
He said, “This book is basically inert because you’re writing like a tourist. The same, unfortunately, can be said about your characters.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Those groups create chemically reactive sites, allowing the alkaline treatment to break down materials that would otherwise remain largely inert.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
Billy and the Maori dug into the inert, unpromising gravel of the moon.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
