IDLE Synonyms: 163 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'idle' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of idle are inactive , inert , passive , and supine . While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements. // workers were idle in the fields

Q: When is 'inactive' a more appropriate choice than 'idle'?

The meanings of inactive and idle largely overlap; however, inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work. // on inactive status as an astronaut // inactive accounts

Q: When could 'inert' be used to replace 'idle'?

The words inert and idle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity. // inert ingredients in drugs // an inert citizenry

Q: When can 'passive' be used instead of 'idle'?

The words passive and idle can be used in similar contexts, but passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control. // passive resistance

Q: When might 'supine' be a better fit than 'idle'?

While in some cases nearly identical to idle , supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence. // a supine willingness to play the fool

idle 1 of 2

adjective

ˈī-dᵊl

Definition of idle

as in dormant

not being in a state of use, activity, or employment the car was idle for two weeks while they went on vacation the company's competitors have not been idle in developing rival products

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lazy

not easily aroused to action or work an idle employee who always seems to be either on break or at lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

idle

2 of 2

verb

as in to lazy

to spend time doing nothing she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word idle different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of idle are inactive, inert, passive, and supine. While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

When is inactive a more appropriate choice than idle?

The meanings of inactive and idle largely overlap; however, inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut

inactive accounts

When could inert be used to replace idle?

The words inert and idle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity.

inert ingredients in drugs

an inert citizenry

When can passive be used instead of idle?

The words passive and idle can be used in similar contexts, but passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

passive resistance

When might supine be a better fit than idle?

While in some cases nearly identical to idle, supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

a supine willingness to play the fool

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 idle

Adjective

Overnight, one of the polishing tools had experienced an idle time of two hundred and nine seconds. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Georgia was coming off an emotional win at Alabama while Auburn was idle. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Verb

But every watt lost to idle draw while a cooler cycles, or to low-power conversion while a light stays on, is energy already paid for and carried, but never used. — New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026 Diesel engine idling and high-risk industrial activity across the street from homes and parks would bring air, noise and light pollution. — Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for idle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idle

Adjective

The issues may have been lying dormant The vulnerabilities have been known about since at least 2024, according to the PHP Foundation.

— Kaitlyn Huamani, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
So Hanawalt reactivated her dormant Facebook account and began scrolling through local horse sale groups.

— Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of dormant

Adjective

Not because trainers are lazy, but because output feels controllable.

— Ben Plomion, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
While older generations may interpret limited eye contact, a flat expression or a pause before responding as rude, lazy or unprofessional, that might not be a younger person’s intent at all, Leahy said.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of lazy

Verb

The joy Lisa has with her RHUGT cast compared with the dread her RHOSLC cast seems to bring her really bums me out — especially because of how much of this trip is championing the sisterhood of Housewives.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
My conversation partner returned, somehow unable to bum even a single cigarette from anyone at this party.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 July 2026

Definition of bum

Verb

The colony also has a population of New Zealand fur seals that laze around the rocks frequented by flocks of seabirds.

— Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
The pigs that would soon enough become lunch lazed in the compost-pile mud in front of a five-star-hotel-worthy view of the Cretan Sea.

— Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026

Definition of laze

Adjective

The television ad begins with a dark video of an empty swing and the faint sound of children’s voices in the background, then shifts to footage of vacant pews inside a church.

— Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
The presidency in this Caribbean nation of 12 million has been vacant since the 2021 assassination of Jovenel Moïse.

— Widlore Mérancourt, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of vacant

Verb

My favorite touch was the deep-red plush bathrobe, which somehow made lounging in the room feel like part of the performance.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
South Floridians of a certain vintage — those familiar with Las Olas pre-pandemic, anyway — may remember Mangos, the Floribbean locals lounge that lasted 25 years on the boulevard before closing in 2017.

— Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of lounge

Adjective

An unused two-door reach-in cooler turned into a roach cemetery, with 17 dead bodies inside and three in the drain pan underneath.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Becerra’s origin story traces back to his youth in Sacramento, and a moment when a high school friend was about to throw out a blank, unused application to Stanford University.

— Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of unused

Browse Nearby Words

idiots

idle

idled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Idle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idle. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of idle

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes