inertia

in·er·tia

noun \i-ˈnər-shə, -shē-ə\

Definition of INERTIA

1

a : a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force b : an analogous property of other physical quantities (as electricity)

2

: indisposition to motion, exertion, or change : inertness

— in·er·tial \-shəl\ adjective

— in·er·tial·ly \-ˈnər-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of INERTIA

1. He blames governmental inertia for the holdup.
2. After 10 years in an unsatisfying job she overcame her inertia and went back to school.

Origin of INERTIA

New Latin, from Latin, lack of skill, from inert-, iners

First Known Use: 1713

Related to INERTIA

Synonyms: idleness, indolence, laziness, shiftlessness, sloth

Antonyms: drive, industriousness, industry

Related Words: apathy, languor, lassitude, lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, supineness; dallying, goldbricking, loafing, lolling, lounging

Near Antonyms: ambition, enterprise, go, hustle, initiative; assiduity, assiduousness, diligence, perseverance; animation, briskness, energy, exuberance, jazziness, liveliness, lustiness, pep, peppiness, robustness, sprightliness, vibrancy, vigor, vim, vitality, vivacity

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Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum