1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
some volcanoes have eruptive cycles marked by long stretches of dormancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inertia
lack of action or activity
a fighting force that could be roused instantly from dormancy to action
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dormancy
Eggs, caterpillars, and pupae may enter dormancy and emerge when warm weather returns.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, companies can charge fees for inactivity or dormancy, but only if the card has gone unused for a year and the policy clearly states that charges could be incurred.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 25 Dec. 2025
The movie reunites Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean as the members of the (sadly) fictional metal band Spinal Tap, reuniting after 41 years of dormancy; Reiner appears, once again, as the (also sadly) fictional documentary filmmaker Martin di Bergi.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
This example’s nearly 40 years of dormancy means that a considerable amount of attention is needed.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dormancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dormancy
Noun
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Once receiver Rashee Rice returned from a six-game suspension, the Chiefs offense looked nearly unstoppable at times in the middle of the season, which included home blowout wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders.—
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He is briefly named in a 2023 Wisconsin Watch and Wisconsin Public Radio investigation into the state's suspension of pandemic-era grant funding for a small business belonging to Roundtree's mother, Cynthia Brown.—
Noun
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Japan’s old, stodgy government is initially too caught up in bureaucratic red tape and inertia to mount a response.—
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Her confinement was not the result of any criminal conduct, but of bureaucratic error compounded by institutional inertia.—
Noun
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Start the new year with a little extra suspense.—
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And, the heightened level of suspense, coupled with the reader’s invitation to examine the complexities of the human heart, definitely makes this book a must-read.—
Noun
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One of the dogs had pressure sores on all of its limbs, indicating inactivity, the detective wrote.—
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How periods of inactivity affect cognitive performance For most of us, everyday life is characterized by a lack of movement.—
Noun
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This is a region of gravitational quiescence about a million miles from Earth, where ESCAPADE will linger for a year awaiting a more favorable alignment between Earth and Mars.—
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Through the night, melatonin production rises, putting cells into a deeper state of quiescence.—
Noun
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America’s ratification that year broke a logjam of inaction by nations that had signed the agreement but were wary about actually ratifying it as a legal document.—
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Congress will continue pressing for accountability and fiscal discipline, because the cost of inaction falls on workers and employers alike.—
Cite this Entry
“Dormancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dormancy. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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