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inertia

[ɪˈnəːʃə]

inertia Definition

  • 1a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged
  • 2a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force

Using inertia: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "inertia" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The company's inertia prevented it from adapting to the changing market.

  • Example

    The car's inertia kept it moving forward even after the driver hit the brakes.

  • Example

    The country's political system was characterized by inertia and resistance to change.

inertia Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for inertia

Phrases with inertia

  • a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation rate

    Example

    The moment of inertia of a figure skater decreases as they pull their arms closer to their body.

  • a sales technique in which a product is marketed as a subscription service that automatically renews unless the customer cancels

    Example

    The company used inertia selling to boost its revenue by signing up customers for subscriptions they didn't really want.

  • the tendency of a culture to resist change and maintain traditional ways of thinking and behaving

    Example

    The cultural inertia of the society made it difficult for new ideas to gain acceptance.

Origins of inertia

from Latin 'iners', meaning 'idle'

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Summary: inertia in Brief

The term 'inertia' [ɪˈnəːʃə] refers to a tendency to remain unchanged or to do nothing. It can also refer to a property of matter that causes it to continue in its existing state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force. Examples of its use include 'The company's inertia prevented it from adapting to the changing market.' and 'The car's inertia kept it moving forward even after the driver hit the brakes.'

How do native speakers use this expression?