inert
Americanadjective
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having no inherent power of action, motion, or resistance (opposed to active).
inert matter.
- Synonyms:
- motionless, lifeless, unmoving, immobile
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Chemistry. having little or no ability to react, as nitrogen that occurs uncombined in the atmosphere.
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Pharmacology. having no pharmacological action, as the excipient of a pill.
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inactive or sluggish by habit or nature.
adjective
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having no inherent ability to move or to resist motion
-
inactive, lazy, or sluggish
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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
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Languor Management: Synonyms for "Lazy"
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And Then There Were None
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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.
The results were especially unexpected because polyethylene has traditionally been regarded as a relatively biologically inert material.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
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
The meals of hot dogs and tinned fruit were revelatory to children used to the flavorings of ginger and kimchi: “This was straight-up American food, wholesome, facile, and inert, and we adored it.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
The rest of us were still sitting around the kitchen table, awkward and inert, pretending to enjoy our second and third cups of coffee when Teddy’s wife marched in.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions 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.
