inert

/ɪˈnɜːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈnɜːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈnərt/ (ame, mw)

inert — 形容詞

  • inertpositive
  • more inertcomparative
  • most inertsuperlative

1. completely still and without any movement, often because of having no ability to

1.形容詞B2
釋義

靜止的

完全靜止，無法移動的

completely still and without any movement, often because of having no ability to shift position or act

例句

After the car accident, the injured dog lay inert on the roadside until the vet arrived.

車禍發生後，那隻受傷的狗靜止不動地躺在路邊，直到獸醫抵達。

lay inert — describing an uninjured but immobile animal or person

The old factory machinery stood inert, covered in dust and rust after years of disuse.

廢棄工廠的機器靜止不動，覆蓋著灰塵和鐵鏽，已經多年無人使用。

同義詞
  • motionless

    more neutral, focusing only on the absence of visible movement

  • stationary

    suggests something deliberately kept in one position or not designed to move

  • immobile

    emphasises the inability to move rather than simply not moving

反義詞
  • active

    engaging in movement or physical action

  • mobile

    able to move freely or easily

文法句型

inert + noun

verb + inert

用法筆記

Often used with verbs of position such as lie, stand, sit, or hang to describe a motionless state.

常見錯誤

❌He was inert after running five miles.
✅He was exhausted after running five miles.
💡'inert' describes a lack of ability or tendency to move, not temporary tiredness.

2. lacking the energy, liveliness, or interesting qualities that would make someone

2.形容詞C1
釋義

呆滯的

缺乏活力或趣味的

lacking the energy, liveliness, or interesting qualities that would make someone or something engaging or productive

例句

The committee meeting became inert after two hours of repetitive discussion about the same topic.

委員會會議在針對同一議題反覆討論兩小時後，變得毫無生氣。

inert meeting — describing a boring, unproductive situation

Kwame felt unusually inert on the sofa, unable to find the motivation to start his homework.

Kwame 癱坐在沙發上，感到異常呆滯，完全提不起勁寫作業。

同義詞
  • sluggish

    suggests slow movement rather than complete lack of energy

  • listless

    focuses on lack of interest or enthusiasm, often due to illness or boredom

  • dull

    more general term for something that fails to interest or excite

反義詞
  • energetic

    full of vitality and activity

  • lively

    full of life, energy, or interest

文法句型

inert + noun

feel / seem / become + inert

用法筆記

Applied to people, groups, events, or creative works. Unlike sense 1 (physical stillness), this sense describes a lack of spirit, interest, or productive energy.

常見錯誤

❌The athlete felt inert after training for three hours.
✅The athlete felt exhausted after training for three hours.
💡'inert' implies a lasting lack of energy or spirit, not temporary physical tiredness.

3. describes a gas or substance that does not react easily with other chemicals whe

3.形容詞B2
釋義

惰性的

不容易與其他物質產生化學反應的

describes a gas or substance that does not react easily with other chemicals when brought into contact with them

例句

Argon is an inert gas used inside light bulbs to prevent the metal filament from burning.

氬氣是一種惰性氣體，用於燈泡內部以防止金屬燈絲燒毀。

inert gas — argon, helium, neon are common examples

The lab technicians stored the reactive sodium in an inert oil to stop it from touching air.

實驗室技術人員將活性很強的鈉存放在惰性油中，以防止它接觸空氣。

同義詞
  • unreactive

    more transparently descriptive than 'inert' for non-specialist readers

  • neutral

    suggests the substance neither acts as an acid nor a base

反義詞
  • reactive

    tending to undergo chemical change when mixed with other substances

文法句型

inert + noun

chemically inert

用法筆記

Common in scientific and technical writing. The opposite of this sense is reactive. Distinguished from senses 1 and 2 by the domain context (chemistry, materials science).

常見錯誤

❌The chemical was inert so it exploded on contact.
✅The chemical was highly reactive so it exploded on contact.
💡'inert' means the opposite: it does NOT react.