adjective
inert
ih-NURT/ɪˈnɜːrt/
Remaining inactive under the conditions present.
He remains inert on the sofa while his friend urges action.
Etymology
The pieces originally meant “without skill.” Latin also used the resulting adjective for someone inactive or sluggish, connecting lack of ability with the modern sense of being unable or unwilling to act.
In context
I saw him, after he had searched the dead man's pockets, raise the inert body with its awful featureless face and drag it to the bulwarks.
More examples
- The gas remains inert at room temperature.
- The robot lies inert until someone restores its power.
- Argon provides an inert atmosphere that protects the hot metal.
Forms
inert · more inert · most inert
inertness noun — The state of being inactive or unresponsive.
Similar words
- inactive
- Not currently active, but not necessarily unable to act.
- unreactive
- Specifically emphasizes the absence of a response, often in chemistry.
- motionless
- Describes lack of movement without implying inability to act.