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Impetus vs Inertia - What's the difference?

impetus | inertia |

As nouns the difference between impetus and inertia

is that impetus is something that impels, a stimulating factor while inertia is the property of a body that resists any change to its uniform motion; equivalent to its mass.

impetus

English

Noun

(es)
  • Something that impels, a stimulating factor.
  • The outbreak of World War II in 1939 gave a new impetus to receiver development.
  • * 2011 , Phil McNulty, Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15195384.stm]
  • In a single moment Montenegro and their supporters were given fresh impetus and encouragement. Beciraj tested Hart with a low shot before teenager Phil Jones, on his England debut, suffered an anxious moment when Stevan Jovetic went down under his challenge, leaving the youngster clearly relieved to see referee Stark wave away Montenegro's appeals.
  • A force, either internal or external, that impels; an impulse.
  • The force or energy associated with a moving body; a stimulus.
  • An activity in response to a stimulus.
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    inertia

    Noun

  • (physics, uncountable, or, countable) The property of a body that resists any change to its uniform motion; equivalent to its mass.
  • (figuratively) In a person, unwillingness to take action.
  • * Carlyle
  • Men have immense irresolution and inertia .
  • * 2014 , Jacob Steinberg, " Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals", The Guardian , 9 March 2014:
  • City had been woeful, their anger at their own inertia summed up when Samir Nasri received a booking for dissent, and they did not have a shot on target until the 66th minute.
  • (medicine) Lack of activity; sluggishness; said especially of the uterus, when, in labour, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased.
  • Synonyms

    * (unwillingness to take action) idleness, laziness, sloth, slothfulness

    Derived terms

    * inertial * inertia welding * moment of inertia