What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unreactive
Example
The noble gases are unreactive because they have a full outer shell of electrons. [unreactive: adjective]
Example
She remained unreactive during the entire conversation, giving no indication of her thoughts or feelings. [unreactive: adjective]
Example
The stagnant pond was unreactive to the rain, remaining still and unchanged. [unreactive: adjective]
passive
Example
He took a passive role in the project, letting others make the decisions. [passive: adjective]
Example
The sentence 'The ball was thrown by John' is in the passive voice. [passive: noun]
Example
The passive nature of the desert landscape made it difficult for plants to grow. [passive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Passive is more commonly used than unreactive in everyday language, especially in the context of human behavior. Unreactive is more commonly used in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unreactive and passive?
Both unreactive and passive can be used in formal and informal contexts, but unreactive is more commonly used in technical or scientific writing, while passive is more versatile and can be used in various contexts and levels of formality.
