Inert vs Disinterested - What's the difference?
inert | disinterested |
Unable to move or act; inanimate.
Sluggish or lethargic.
In chemistry, not readily reacting with other elements or compounds.
Having no therapeutic action.
Having no stake or interest in the outcome; free of bias, impartial.
* 1791 , (James Boswell), Life of Samuel Johnson :
* 1919 , , :
*2011 , (Steven Pinker), The Better Angels of Our Nature , Penguin 2012, p. 220:
*:People are better off abjuring violence, if everyone else agrees to do so, and vesting authority in a disinterested third party.
* '>citation
Uninterested, lacking interest.
* 1684 , Contempl. State of Man I. x
* 1936 , (Djuna Barnes), Nightwood , Faber & Faber 2007, p. 43:
* 1967 , Tommy Frazer, The Sun (Baltimore), "A 'Doctor' Of Karate", March 27
As adjectives the difference between inert and disinterested
is that inert is unable to move or act; inanimate while disinterested is having no stake or interest in the outcome; free of bias, impartial.As a noun inert
is (chemistry) a substance that does not react chemically.inert
English
Adjective
(en adjective)Derived terms
* inert gas * inertlySee also
* inertiaAnagrams
* * * * * ----disinterested
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Sir, you have a right to that kind of respect, and are arguing for yourself. I am supporting the principle, and am disinterested in doing it, as I have no such right.
- With his disinterested passion for art, he had a real desire to call the attention of the wise to a talent which was in the highest degree original; [...]
- How dis-interested are they in all Worldly matters, since they fling their Wealth and Riches into the Sea.
- Robin took to wandering again, to intermittent travel from which she came back hours, days later, disinterested .
- Those spotted are usually taught so slowly that they grow disinterested and quit.