1
as in sleeping
being in a state of suspended consciousness
the bears lay dormant in their den during the winter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vacant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the engine lay dormant in the garage until we found a use for it
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Recent Examples of dormant
Researchers have solved the mystery on why a dormant volcano in South America has displayed possible signs of an eruption for decades.
—
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025
Take a cutting a few inches long with several leaves to include a node (that brown bumpy thing which is a dormant growing point where the stem meets the leaf).
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 May 2025
Shingles develops in people who have previously had chicken pox, a virus that remains dormant in the body after acute infections clear up and can be reactivated later in life.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 May 2025
The infections are the result of a supply-chain attack that compromised at least three software providers with malware that remained dormant for six years and became active only in the last few weeks.
—ArsTechnica, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025
Take a cutting a few inches long with several leaves to include a node (that brown bumpy thing which is a dormant growing point where the stem meets the leaf).
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 May 2025
Shingles develops in people who have previously had chicken pox, a virus that remains dormant in the body after acute infections clear up and can be reactivated later in life.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 May 2025
The infections are the result of a supply-chain attack that compromised at least three software providers with malware that remained dormant for six years and became active only in the last few weeks.
—ArsTechnica, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormant
Adjective
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Sadly, the Skirvin closed its doors in the late '80s and sat vacant for two decades.—
Anne Roderique-Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2025
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Big cities like Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Houston, New York, Miami and San Francisco are also being hit by the effects of vacant office buildings.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Tornadoes in the Southeastern U.S. are more likely to strike overnight, when people are asleep and cannot quickly protect themselves, which makes these events dramatically more dangerous.—
Daniel Chavas,
The Conversation,
23 May 2025
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The vote was that close in part because Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican who would've voted to support it, was asleep at the time, House Speaker Mike Johnson said.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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So, out of the $403 million payroll, $93.75 million worth of pitchers are idle (not counting Ohtani).—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
22 May 2025
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Built for Efficiency: Save Smarter, Live Freer The Apex 300 leads the class in power efficiency, sipping just 20W in idle mode—ideal for stretching backup runtime.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Telogen Stage The telogen stage of the hair cycle is a resting phase, during which the hair doesn't grow, and the follicle is dormant.1 About 10% to 15% of the hairs on your body are in this resting phase at any one time, which typically lasts for a few months.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
13 Jan. 2025
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Green Bay could finish as high as sixth in the NFC if the resting Rams lose to the 49ers, potentially setting up a first-round matchup against the division-rival Lions.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2024
Adjective
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The Army said 6,700 soldiers will begin arriving Washington, D.C., on June 11 and will sleep on cots inside unused federal office buildings, including the Department of Agriculture.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
21 May 2025
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Starting in 2024, unused funds from a 529 plan can be rolled over tax-free into a account, effectively turning it into a retirement account.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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But the Lions scored three times in the top of the third off USD starter Cal Scolari.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2025
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As the Cubs, winners in seven of their last nine, head into an off day Thursday, here are three takeaways from their second straight series victory.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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He was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2025
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The silver vehicle then hit the 84-year-old woman, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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As one of her earliest albums returns, the singer also reaches a lofty landmark figure for the very first time, proving that her catalog remains hugely popular, even if her career is essentially inactive.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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The Fever's game against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday marked the first time in Clark's WNBA that she was listed as inactive.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dormant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormant. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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