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- pronunciation:
- pae
sihv
- parts of speech:
- adjective, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective, noun), Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
receiving an action without acting in return, or being unresponsive to something that affects or might be expected to affect one directly.
The demonstrators remained passive as they were beaten by government troops.She was surprisingly passive when she was told the news of her husband's accident.- synonyms:
- unresponsive
- similar words:
- accepting, dull, impassive, inert, patient, receptive, sluggish, stoic, tolerant, unaffected
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| definition 2: |
tending to offer no resistance; submissive; compliant.
Repeated beatings had caused the wife to become passive.He is so passive that people take advantage of him.- synonyms:
- acquiescent, compliant, resigned, submissive, unresistant
- similar words:
- complaisant, deferential, docile, malleable, obedient, obliging, pliable, servile, tame, tolerant, tractable, unassertive, yielding
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| definition 3: |
not participating; inactive.
She feels that the students have become passive, not participating or taking any interest in their government.- synonyms:
- inactive, inert, nonparticipating
- antonyms:
- active
- similar words:
- apathetic, dormant, impassive, indifferent, indolent, leaden, lethargic, lifeless, listless, motionless, quiescent, sleepy, sluggish, stagnant, still, torpid
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| definition 4: |
in grammar, designating the voice or form of a verb whose subject is the object of the verb's action, such as "was signed" in "The document was signed by five petitioners". (Cf. active.)
- antonyms:
- active
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| definition 5: |
in chemistry, exhibiting no reaction; inert.
- synonyms:
- inert
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| related words: |
meek, neutral, quiet |
| contrasting words: |
aggressive |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
in grammar, the passive voice, or a verb in this voice.
- antonyms:
- active
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| derivations: |
passively (adv.), passiveness (n.), passivity (n.) |
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