inertia

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Pronunciation

• (America) IPA: /ɪnˈɝ.ʃə/, /ɪˈnɝ.ʃə/

Noun

inertia

1. (physics, uncountable or countable) The property of a body that resists any change to its uniform motion; equivalent to its mass.
2. (figuratively) In a person, unwillingness to take action.

   • Men […] have immense irresolution and inertia.

   • 2014, Jacob Steinberg, "Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals ↗", The Guardian, 9 March 2014:

     City had been woeful, their anger at their own inertia summed up when Samir Nasri received a booking for dissent, and they did not have a shot on target until the 66th minute.

3. (medicine) Lack of activity; sluggishness; said especially of the uterus, when, in labour, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased.

Synonyms

• (unwillingness to take action) idleness, laziness, sloth, slothfulness

Related terms

• inert
• inertness

Translations

• French: inertie
• German: Trägheit, Beharrungsvermögen, Beharrung
• Italian: inerzia
• Portuguese: inércia
• Russian: ине́рция
• Spanish: inercia

Translations

• German: Trägheit, Schwerfälligkeit, Unbeweglichkeit
• Italian: inerzia
• Portuguese: inércia
• Russian: ине́ртность
• Spanish: inercia

Translations

• German: Reglosigkeit, Schwerfälligkeit, Trägheit

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