Inanimate vs. Inert — What's the Difference?

Not having the qualities associated with active, living organisms.

Incapable of moving or acting

Not animated or energetic; dull.

Sluggish in action or motion; lethargic.

(Grammar) Belonging to the class of nouns that stand for nonliving things

(Chemistry) Not readily reactive with other elements; forming few or no chemical compounds.

Lacking the quality or ability of motion; as an inanimate object.

Having no pharmacologic, metabolic, or other physiological effect.

Not being, and never having been alive, especially not like humans and animals.

Unable to move or act; inanimate.

(grammar) Not animate.

Sluggish or lethargic.

(rare) Something that is not alive.

In chemistry, not readily reacting with other elements or compounds.

(obsolete) To animate.

Having no therapeutic action.

To animate.

(chemistry) A substance that does not react chemically.

Not animate; destitute of life or spirit; lifeless; dead; inactive; dull; as, stones and earth are inanimate substances.

To fill with an inert gas to reduce the risk of explosion.

Belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things;

Destitute of the power of moving itself, or of active resistance to motion; as, matter is inert.

Not endowed with life;

Indisposed to move or act; very slow to act; sluggish; dull; inactive; indolent; lifeless.

Appearing dead; not breathing or having no perceptible pulse;

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.

Unable to move or resist motion

Having only a limited ability to react chemically; not active;

Slow and apathetic;