PASSIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PASSIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “passive”? Find 25 synonyms and 30 related words for “passive” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Passive” are: inactive, peaceful, submissive, acquiescent, unresisting, yielding, unassertive, compliant, complaisant, pliant, resigned, obedient, docile, tractable, malleable, pliable, meek, subdued, deferential, forbearing, long-suffering, patient, lamblike, supine, passive voice

Passive as a Noun

Definitions of "Passive" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “passive” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A passive form of a verb.
• The passive voice.
• The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb.

Synonyms of "Passive" as a noun (1 Word)

passive voice

The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb.

Usage Examples of "Passive" as a noun

• `The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice.
• `The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive.

Passive as an Adjective

Definitions of "Passive" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “passive” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Lacking in energy or will- George Meredith.
• Accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.
• (of radar or a satellite) receiving or reflecting radiation from a transmitter or target rather than generating its own signal.
• (of a heating system) making use of incident sunlight as an energy source.
• Expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb.
• (of a circuit or device) containing no source of electromotive force.
• Peacefully resistant in response to injustice.
• Lacking in energy or will.
• Denoting a voice of verbs in which the subject undergoes the action of the verb (e.g. they were killed as opposed to the active form he killed them).
• (of a metal) made unreactive by a thin inert surface layer of oxide.

Synonyms of "Passive" as an adjective (24 Words)

acquiescent	Ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants. His acquiescent mood.
complaisant	Willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest. To close one s eyes like a complaisant husband whose wife has taken a lover.
compliant	Inclined to comply. The conversion of the gel to a much less compliant rigid glass.
deferential	Showing deference. People were always deferential to him.
docile	Easily handled or managed. Docile pupils eager for instruction.
forbearing	Showing patient and unruffled self-control and restraint under adversity; slow to retaliate or express resentment. Seemly and forbearing yet strong enough to resist aggression.
inactive	Not in physical motion. Inactive machinery.
lamblike	Like a lamb in meekness and gentleness.
long-suffering	Patiently bearing continual wrongs or trouble.
malleable	Easily influenced; pliable. Malleable metals such as gold.
meek	Evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant- Orville Prescott. Meek as a mouse.
obedient	Complying or willing to comply with an order or request; submissive to another’s authority. A docile and obedient dog.
patient	Enduring trying circumstances with even temper or characterized by such endurance. A patient smile.
peaceful	Peacefully resistant in response to injustice. Everything was so quiet and peaceful in the early morning.
pliable	Susceptible to being led or directed. Pliable teenage minds.
pliant	Capable of being bent or flexed or twisted without breaking. Pliant willow stems.
resigned	Having accepted something unpleasant that one cannot do anything about. My response is a resigned shrug of the shoulders.
subdued	(of a person or their manner) quiet and rather reflective or depressed. A subdued whisper.
submissive	Abjectly submissive characteristic of a slave or servant. Replacing troublemakers with more submissive people.
supine	Passive as a result of indolence or indifference. The government was supine in the face of racial injustice.
tractable	Readily reacting to suggestions and influences. The natives being of an intelligent tractable disposition.
unassertive	Inclined to timidity or lack of self-confidence. A shy unassertive person.
unresisting	Offering no resistance. She took the box from his unresisting hand.
yielding	Tending to give in or surrender or agree. A deep yielding layer of foam rubber.

Usage Examples of "Passive" as an adjective

• A passive optical network is to be installed in 2000 homes.
• The women were portrayed as passive victims.
• Passive sensors detect the emissions from enemy radar.
• Passive resistance.
• Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself.
• Academics seem to favor passive sentences.
• Bananas can be grown at the highest altitude using passive solar heating alone.

Associations of "Passive" (30 Words)

acquiescence	The reluctant acceptance of something without protest. In silent acquiescence she rose to her feet.
bashful	Disposed to avoid notice blate is a Scottish term for bashful. Don t be bashful about telling folk how you feel.
coy	Showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement. Like a wild young colt very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled.
demure	Reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman. A demure knee length skirt.
diffident	Lacking self-confidence. A diffident youth.
disinclined	Unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval. The rural community was disinclined to abandon the old ways.
eschew	Deliberately avoid using; abstain from. He appealed to the crowd to eschew violence.
inactive	(of e.g. volcanos) not erupting and not extinct. Inactive Crohn s disease.
introvert	(psychology) a person who tends to shrink from social contacts and to become preoccupied with their own thoughts. He introverted his feelings.
introverted	(of an organ or other body part) turned or pushed inward on itself.
loath	(usually followed by `to’) strongly opposed. Loath to admit a mistake.
negatively	In a negative way. Traffic congestion had impacted negatively on their business.
passivity	The trait of remaining inactive; a lack of initiative. Nickel increases the overall passivity of the iron.
prissy	Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted. A middle class family with two prissy children.
prudish	Exaggeratedly proper. The prudish moral climate of the late 19th century.
quiet	With little or no activity or no agitation quiet is a nonstandard variant for quietly. We wanted a quiet wedding.
reserved	Kept specially for a particular person. Was habitually reserved in speech withholding her opinion.
reticent	Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily. She was extremely reticent about her personal affairs.
retired	(of a place) quiet and secluded. A retired headmaster.
retiring	Of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office. A retiring member of the board.
shy	Slow or reluctant to do (something. The wealthy have become less shy of displaying their privilege.
silence	Stop or suppress (a sound or noise); cause to become silent. An eerie silence descended over the house.
silent	Implied by or inferred from actions or statements. A silent prayer.
taciturn	Habitually reserved and uncommunicative. After such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose.
timid	Showing fear and lack of confidence. I was too timid to ask for what I wanted.
timorous	Timid by nature or revealing timidity. A timorous voice.
unassertive	(of a person) not having or showing a confident and forceful personality. His bland and unassertive personal style.
uncommunicative	Unwilling to talk or impart information. He had always been quiet and uncommunicative having few friends.
withdrawn	Withdrawn from society seeking solitude. When her husband died she became very withdrawn.