inert
Lacking all reactivity
Inert describes something lacking the ability or tendency to move or act.
An inert body lies motionless.
In chemistry, inert substances resist reacting with other chemicals—the noble gases are called inert because they don't readily form compounds.
Figuratively, inert describes people or institutions that are sluggish or passive: The committee remained inert despite mounting pressure to act.
Unmoving, or continuing
- immobileUnable to shift
- stationaryNot in motion
- unmovingLacking any motion
- staticWithout motion or change
frozen · paralyzed · rooted · fixed · immovable · petrified · suspended · halted
Failing to react or reply
- apatheticWithout feeling or concern
- indifferentLacking interest or concern
- lethargicLacking energy or alertness
- torpidInactive and slow
sluggish · listless · phlegmatic · languid · enervated · supine · comatose · dormant
Not prone to reactions
- nonreactiveChemically inactive substance
- stableSecure and unchanging
- nobleTitled or virtuous
- neutralNot favoring any side
Devoid of animation
- flatLacking vertical variation
- staleNo longer fresh
- vapidDull, without depth
- uninspiredLacking creative spark
lackluster · spiritless · unanimated · expressionless · blank · deadpan · wooden · leaden
still
Unmoving, or continuing
- immobileUnable to shift
- stationaryNot in motion
- unmovingLacking any motion
static · frozen · paralyzed · rooted · fixed · immovable · petrified · suspended · halted · dormant
unresponsive
Failing to react or reply
- apatheticWithout feeling or concern
- indifferentLacking interest or concern
- lethargicLacking energy or alertness
torpid · sluggish · listless · phlegmatic · languid · enervated · supine · comatose · dormant · acquiescent
unreactive
Not prone to reactions
- nonreactiveChemically inactive substance
- stableSecure and unchanging
- nobleTitled or virtuous
neutral · nonflammable · noncorrosive · nontoxic · nonvolatile
lifeless
Devoid of animation
uninspired · lackluster · spiritless · unanimated · expressionless · blank · deadpan · wooden · leaden · insipid
argon
Unreactive element eighteen
krypton · xenon · radon · shielding · welding · atmosphere · blanket · purging · protective · pressurizing
- motion statesmoving, stationary, in motion, at rest, still
- stillnessstillness, motionless, motionlessness, immobility, unmoving
- lacking energylistless, languid, sluggish, weary, torpid
- unusedunused, idle, untouched, vacant, empty
- Chemical PropertiespH, acidity, alkalinity, solubility, reactivity
- metal propertiesmalleable, ductile, conductive, magnetic, brittle
- inert gasChemically unreactive element
- inert gasesChemically unreactive elements
- sleep inertiaCognitive impairment after waking
- bureaucratic inertiaSystemic resistance to administrative change
- moment of inertiaResistance to angular acceleration
inertia, inert gases, inertness, inertial, inertly, inert gas