Inert
[ɪ'nɜːt] or [ɪ'nɝt]
Definition
(adj.) slow and apathetic; 'she was fat and inert'; 'a sluggish worker'; 'a mind grown torpid in old age' .
(adj.) unable to move or resist motion .
(adj.) having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive; 'inert matter'; 'an indifferent chemical in a reaction' .
Checked by Bonnie--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Destitute of the power of moving itself, or of active resistance to motion; as, matter is inert.
(a.) Indisposed to move or act; very slow to act; sluggish; dull; inactive; indolent; lifeless.
(a.) Not having or manifesting active properties; not affecting other substances when brought in contact with them; powerless for an expected or desired effect.
Checker: Walter
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Inactive, lifeless, passive, motionless, dead.[2]. Dull, indolent, torpid, sluggish, slothful, lazy, idle, supine, lumpish, dronish.
Checked by Judith
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Indolent, slothful, lazy, sluggish, heavy, inactive, passive, dormant
ANT:Active, energetic, alert, brisk
Typed by Leigh
Definition
adj. dull: senseless: inactive: slow: without the power of moving itself or of active resistance to motion: powerless.—n. Iner′tia inertness: the inherent property of matter by which it tends to remain for ever at rest when still and in motion when moving.—adv. Inert′ly.—n. Inert′ness.
Inputed by Cyrus
Examples
- For a moment they lay there, and then Tarzan realized that the inert mass lying upon him was beyond power ever again to injure man or ape. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- The hitherto inert and passive mill woke; fire flashed from its empty window-frames; a volley of musketry pealed sharp through the Hollow. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- For a platitude is generally inert wisdom. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- There it lay, inert matter, as it had always lain, since the beginning of time, subject to the will of man. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- The earth as the home of man is humanizing and unified; the earth viewed as a miscellany of facts is scattering and imaginatively inert. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Birkin looked at the pale fingers, the inert mass. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- But all laws which depend for their enforcement upon informers and fines, become inert from the odiousness of the machinery. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- These coarse particles, or clinkers, absorb water very slowly, are practically inert, and have very feeble cementing properties. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- At length Gerald lay back inert on the carpet, his breast rising in great slow panting, whilst Birkin kneeled over him, almost unconscious. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- The Greek states remained inert thereafter, neither troublesome nor helpful. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- A machine, an inert mass of metal and wood, cannot of itself do any work, but can only distribute the energy which is brought to it. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- And Gerald sat mute, like a dumb beast, panting, his teeth chattering, his arms inert, his head like a seal's head. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Each one carries along a quantity of inert and outworn ideas,--not infrequently there is an internally contradictory current. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- In the Peace of Paris (1763) the French gave England Canada, and relinquished Louisiana to the inert hands of declining Spain. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- And yet he felt chiefly disgust at the inert body lying there. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- When learned in this condition it remains a body of inert information. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Later, as the sedative action began to gain on the stimulant action, you would slowly become inert and stupefied. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- But as the body of my antagonist sank an inert mass to the floor a cry of warning broke from one of the female prisoners. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- It was so inert, so coldly dead, a carcase, Birkin's bowels seemed to turn to ice. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- That it should remain inert for the experiences of daily life is more or less a matter of course. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- But he did not move, for a long time he remained inert, his head dropped on his breaSt. Then he looked up and realised that he was going to bed. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- He took her up in his arMs. She was soft and inert, motionless. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- She sank into a kind of furious apathy, a state of inert anger against fate. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- A multitude of men are feeble and inert, without a voice, a leader; give them that, and they regain the strength belonging to their numbers. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- To conquer it men turn generally to their ancient comforter, self-deception: they complain about the stolid, inert masses and the apathy of the people. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
Inputed by Cyrus