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out of action

PHRASE
damaged
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flawed impaired injured run-down
STRONG
bent blemished busted dinged down flubbed gone hurt marred shot snafued spoiled sunk totaled
WEAK
beat-up fouled-up glitched imperfect in need of repair in poor condition in smithereens kaput loused up messed-up mucked up no-go on the blink on the fritz out of kilter out of whack screwed-up unsound
Antonyms
STRONGEST
healthy
WEAK
OK fixed mended perfect repaired unbroken undamaged working
PHRASE
disabled
Synonyms
STRONGEST
broken broken-down down in disrepair inoperative out of order out of service
STRONG
disconnected faulty malfunctioning on the fritz
WEAK
jammed wrecked
PHRASE
dormant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
asleep comatose inert inoperative latent passive sidelined sluggish
WEAK
abeyant closed-down down fallow hibernating lethargic lurking on the shelf potential prepatent quiescent slack slumbering smoldering suspended torpid
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active alert awake conscious lively
PHRASE
inactive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dormant dull idle immobile inoperative jobless passive sedentary sluggish static unemployed unused
WEAK
abeyant asleep blah dead disengaged do-nothing down draggy in holding pattern indolent latent lax lethargic limp low-key mothballed motionless on hold ossified out of commission out of service out of work quiescent quiet slack sleepy slothful slow somnolent stable still torpid unoccupied
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active employed energetic lively mobile moving used
WEAK
busy involved working
PHRASE
incapacitated
Synonyms
STRONG
confined debilitated disabled hurt immobilized impaired lame maimed paralyzed sidelined weakened
WEAK
bedridden broken-down bum helpless impotent incapable infirm laid-up out of commission powerless weak worn-out
Antonyms
STRONG
healthy invigorated strong
PHRASE
indisposed
Synonyms
STRONG
ailing confined down sick
WEAK
below par down with feeling rotten got a bug ill infirm laid up on sick list poorly sickly under the weather unwell
Antonyms
STRONG
happy healthy
WEAK
bent disposed inclined tending well willing
PHRASE
invalid
Synonyms
STRONGEST
infirm sickly
STRONG
ailing debilitated down frail ill peaked sick
WEAK
bedridden below par feeble laid low on the sick list poorly run down weak weakened
Antonyms
STRONG
healthy strong well
WEAK
sound worthy
PHRASE
sickly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ailing cranky feeble infirm lackluster
WEAK
below par bilious delicate diseased down dragging faint in poor health indisposed laid low languid low mean off-color out of shape pallid peaked peaky pining poorly rocky run down seedy sickish unhealthy wan weak
Antonyms
STRONGEST
healthy hearty sound strong
WEAK
fine well
PHRASE
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 on the shelf out of a job out of work resting unapplied unengaged unexercised unoccupied unused without gainful employment workless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active busy working
WEAK
employed occupied
PHRASE
unhealthy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delicate unsound
WEAK
ailing below par debilitated diseased down dragging feeble frail ill in a decline in ill health in poor health infirm invalid laid low out of shape peaked poorly run down shaky sickly unwell weak
Antonyms
STRONGEST
strong
WEAK
good healthy well

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.

Almost a third of CalMac's ferry fleet is out of action due to technical faults and annual repairs, with the firm's boss warning it is struggling to maintain services.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

MV Lord of the Isles, which was covering the Oban to Mull route, is ready to sail again after problems with its main engine put it out of action.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

It was Bernal's second goal since returning from a long-term knee injury, which kept the 18-year-old out of action for over a year.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Howe added that Brazilian midfielder Joelinton was likely facing "weeks, not months" out of action following treatment on his groin issue.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

He had never been out of action that long in all his life.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques