Definitions

on the shelf

ADJECTIVE

broken

Synonyms

STRONGEST

busted defective faulty ruined wrecked

STRONG

dead disabled down gone out shot spent wracked

WEAK

coming unstuck fallen apart feeble gone to pieces haywire imperfect in disrepair in need of repair in the shop inoperable inoperative kaput not functioning on the blink on the fritz out of commission out of kilter out of order out of whack run down screwed-up unsatisfactory weak

Antonyms

STRONGEST

perfect repaired

WEAK

fixed working

ADJECTIVE

deferred

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delayed negotiated postponed

STRONG

adjourned assessed charged pigeonholed prolonged protracted remanded renegotiated scrubbed stalled temporized

WEAK

held up in waiting indebted on hold staved off

Antonyms

WEAK

advanced forwarded furthered hastened hurried

ADJECTIVE

dormant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

asleep comatose inert inoperative latent passive sidelined sluggish

WEAK

abeyant closed-down down fallow hibernating lethargic lurking out of action potential prepatent quiescent slack slumbering smoldering suspended torpid

Antonyms

STRONGEST

active alert awake conscious lively

ADJECTIVE

on the blink

Synonyms

WEAK

bonkers broken busted defective disabled down fallen apart faulty gone to pieces haywire in disrepair in need of repair in the shop inoperable kaput kerflooey not functioning not working on the fritz out out of commission out of kilter out of order out of whack run down shot spent wrecked

ADJECTIVE

unemployed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

idle inactive jobless underemployed

STRONG

down free loafing

WEAK

at liberty between jobs closed-down disengaged fired laid-off leisured on layoff on the bench on the dole out of a job out of action out of work resting unapplied unengaged unexercised unoccupied unused without gainful employment workless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

active busy working

WEAK

employed occupied

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We’re not making records that are just going to go sit on the shelf — these are records we’re continually repressing all the time anyway.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

But leave the megadoses on the shelf unless a doctor advises them.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

And we've all noticed when we get to the checkout the total is higher now than it used to be - even when we've left luxuries like wine or biscuits on the shelf.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Some promising candidates are sitting on the shelf, awaiting funds before human tests.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Then she pours a little something from a bottle on the shelf and dabs that on my lip.

From "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome

on the shelf

Example Sentences

Related Words