passive
Letting things happen
Passive describes a state of receiving action rather than initiating it.
A passive observer watches without participating.
In grammar, passive voice makes the object of an action into the subject: The ball was thrown rather than He threw the ball.
Passive often carries negative connotations of excessive submission or inaction: Don't be so passive—stand up for yourself.
Passive income requires no active effort.
Passive-aggressive behavior expresses hostility indirectly through sulking, stubbornness, or deliberate inefficiency rather than open confrontation.
Yielding to others' wishes
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- meekHumbly unassertive
- acquiescentAccepting without resistance
- deferentialShowing humble submission
subservient · obedient · unassertive · resigned · yielding · pliant · tame · subdued
Inactive but capable
- inertInactive, physically or chemically
- idleWithout activity or purpose
- staticWithout motion or change
- stagnantWithout movement or progress
sedentary · lethargic · torpid · sluggish · motionless · quiescent · latent · immobile
Calm and untroubled
restful · quiet · undisturbed · soothing · mellow · easygoing · unruffled · relaxed
Sound from throat
- agentOne who acts independently
- subjectMatter under discussion
- objectTangible entity or aim
- clauseProvision in agreement
participle · construction · auxiliary · conjugation · verb · transitive · intransitive · periphrastic
Holding attention completely
listening · observing · responsive · sensitive · perceptive · impressionable · susceptible · amenable
Act of escaping detection
- hintingSuggesting indirectly
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
circumlocution · sidestepping · avoidance · obliqueness · equivocation · backhanded · nonconfrontational · unspoken
compliant
Yielding to others' wishes
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- meekHumbly unassertive
- acquiescentAccepting without resistance
deferential · subservient · obedient · unassertive · resigned · yielding · pliant · tame · subdued · timid
dormant
Inactive but capable
- inertInactive, physically or chemically
- idleWithout activity or purpose
- staticWithout motion or change
stagnant · sedentary · lethargic · torpid · sluggish · motionless · quiescent · latent · immobile · resting
tranquil
Calm and untroubled
gentle · restful · quiet · undisturbed · soothing · mellow · easygoing · unruffled · relaxed · unhurried
voice
Sound from throat
clause · participle · construction · auxiliary · conjugation · verb · transitive · intransitive · periphrastic · syntax
absorbing
Holding attention completely
attentive · listening · observing · responsive · sensitive · perceptive · impressionable · susceptible · amenable · porous
evasion
Act of escaping detection
- hintingSuggesting indirectly
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
innuendo · circumlocution · sidestepping · avoidance · obliqueness · equivocation · backhanded · nonconfrontational · unspoken · tacit
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, sneezing
- idlenessdoing nothing, idling, loafing, lounging, lazing
- speaking stylesarticulate, blunt, candid, conversational, casual
- submissivesubmissive, subservient, obedient, servile, docile
- confrontation styleaggressive, assertive, avoidant, diplomatic, hostile
- lacking energylistless, languid, sluggish, weary, torpid
passiveactive
In operation now
active voice · dynamic · energetic · proactive · engaged
passiveassertive
Confidently self-assured
aggressive · resistant · defiant · resisting · forceful
passiveaggressive
Hostile and confrontational
combative · belligerent · hostile · confrontational · militant
- passion fruitTart tropical vine produce
- throes of passionIntense emotional or physical abandon
- passionate cryIntense vocal expression
- passive aggressiveIndirectly expressing resentment
- crime of passionImpulsive violent act from emotion
- passionate kissIntense romantic lip contact
passion, passionate, compassion, impassive, passivity, impassivity, passively, bypassing, impassively