SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
passive
adjective
Taking little independent action or accepting events without active resistance.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Not taking initiative
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPassive describes limited initiative or resistance; peaceful resistance can still involve deliberate active organization.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See passive in use
The exercise asked passive listeners to become active participants in the debate.
A passive participant let the housemates choose every meal and activity without offering a preference or taking independent action.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license