01 a. Destitute of the power of moving itself, or of active resistance to motion; as, matter is inert.
-
1.
Destitute of the power of moving itself, or of active resistance to motion; as, matter is inert.
-
2.
Indisposed to move or act; very slow to act; sluggish; dull; inactive; indolent; lifeless.“The inert and desponding party of the court.” — Macaulay.“It present becomes extravagant, then imbecile, and at length utterly inert.” — I. Taylor.
-
3.
Not having or manifesting active properties; not affecting other substances when brought in contact with them; powerless for an expected or desired effect; as, the noble gases are chemically inert.“Even the favored isles . . . Can boast but little virtue; and, inert Through plenty, lose in morals what they gain In manners -- victims of luxurious ease.” — Cowper.“Doomed to lose four months in inactive obscurity.” — Johnson.“Sluggish Idleness, the nurse of sin, Upon a slothful ass he chose to ride.” — Spenser.
Syn.
Inactive; dull; passive; indolent; sluggish; slothful; lazy; lifeless; irresolute; stupid; senseless; insensible.
Inert, Inactive, Sluggish. A man may be inactive from mere lack of stimulus to effort; but one who is inert has something in his constitution or his habits which operates like a weight holding him back from exertion. Sluggish is still stronger, implying some defect of temperament which directly impedes action. Inert and inactive are negative, sluggish is positive.