WordValeinertia
the tendency of an object to resist changes in motion
In more detail
1. (noun) the tendency of an object to stay at rest or continue moving in the same direction unless a force acts on it
2. (noun) lack of energy or desire to change or do something
Examples
- 1. The car's inertia kept it moving forward even after the driver took their foot off the gas pedal.
- 2. She felt a lot of inertia about starting a new job and was afraid to leave her old one.
How to use inertia
Inertia has two main uses: in physics, it describes the resistance of objects to acceleration, while in figurative contexts it describes institutional, cultural, or personal resistance to change. The second meaning often carries a negative connotation, suggesting unwillingness or sluggishness to act.
Common phrases
- overcome inertia
- moment of inertia
- break the inertia
- cultural inertia
- institutional inertia
- inertia of the status quo
Synonyms
apathy · lethargy · torpor · stagnation · passivity
Opposites
momentum · dynamism · initiative
Word family
inert (adjective) · inertly (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use inertia to mean simply 'slowness' or 'laziness' without the implication of resistance to change; inertia specifically refers to the tendency to maintain a current state rather than general lack of speed.
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