passivity

noun

Definition of passivitynext
1
as in acquiescence

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in inertia

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of passivity The war with Iran shows why congressional passivity is especially dangerous. — Paul Oestreicher, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2026 Political leaders and regulators have failed in parallel, whether through misunderstanding, passivity, or fascination with the technology itself. — Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026 At times this novel reminded me of Sophie Kemp’s Paradise Logic, because Newton is similarly interested in the more deranging aspects of heterosexual coupling, and a certain kind of femme passivity. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 Advantages Over ‘Shark Skin’ Processing The strength of DMR's aerodynamic drag reduction lies in its extremely high passivity and omni-directional nature. — Ritsuko Kawai, Wired News, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for passivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passivity
  1. acquiescence
  2. inertia
  3. submissiveness
  4. apathy
  5. deference
  6. passiveness
  7. humility
  8. stupor
Noun
  • With Taiwan’s 2028 elections approaching, sustained American support strengthens voices favoring self-defense over acquiescence to Beijing.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • In any case, the Biden Administration’s grudging acquiescence now looks like the beginning of a pattern of credulous capitulation.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of acquiescence
Noun
  • At the extreme, such acceleration in imaging can only become entangled with inertia.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Winners who keep winning are willing to take a critical look at their current inertia, admit to its weaknesses and then begin enacting a plan to change direction.
    — David Henkin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of inertia
Noun
  • Attraction is a function of parentage and looks and submissiveness.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
  • But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.
    — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Definition of submissiveness
Noun
  • But if Cal wants to survive the next realignment tidal wave, that apathy has to end today.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • For so long, the Sixers have drawn something close to apathy.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of apathy
Noun
  • Similarly, Sweeney was unpersuaded by NCAA legal arguments that, as a private, membership association, it is owed deference in making business judgments before findings of antitrust liability.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Without Chevron, courts have more power to decide what Congress meant in a statute and don’t have to give deference to a regulatory agency’s judgment.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of deference
Noun
  • Despite his relative passiveness, Brighton’s collective structure is strong.
    — Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of passiveness
Noun
  • Research by Harvard Business School found that advice seekers are often perceived as more competent because asking thoughtful questions signals humility, confidence, and a desire to improve.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Now, after White delivers a prepared speech invoking hatred, fear mongering, divisiveness, love, grace, humility and Michelle Obama, the media reaction is that everyone really wishes outsiders would stop bringing non-basketball issues into the WNBA.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of humility
Noun
  • The sense is of a political culture reluctantly shaking off a decades-long stupor.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • The severe strain of the virus often presents as a fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, or paralysis.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Definition of stupor

Browse Nearby Words

passiveness
passivity
pass muster
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passivity. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on passivity

Nglish: Translation of passivity for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All