as in to relax
to spend time doing things that do not require much thought or effort; to be very lazy or inactive
I just spent the weekend vegetating at home. I'm worried that after I retire I'll just sit at home, watch TV, and vegetate.
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Recent Examples of vegetate
This small reservoir grows big bass but is heavily vegetated in early spring.
—
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 11 June 2024
The program has documented more than 900 springs with flowing or standing water within Arizona’s Sky Islands region, 75 of them with moist ground only, 55 that are dry but still vegetated, and 272 that have dried completely.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
About 30 minutes later, rescuers made voice contact with Blessing but were unable to reach him until about midnight, due to the steep and thickly vegetated terrain, Fish and Game said.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
All the turtles bought on impulse, vegetating in plastic lagoons.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 11 June 2024
The program has documented more than 900 springs with flowing or standing water within Arizona’s Sky Islands region, 75 of them with moist ground only, 55 that are dry but still vegetated, and 272 that have dried completely.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
About 30 minutes later, rescuers made voice contact with Blessing but were unable to reach him until about midnight, due to the steep and thickly vegetated terrain, Fish and Game said.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
All the turtles bought on impulse, vegetating in plastic lagoons.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for vegetate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vegetate
Verb
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Teachers were encouraged to act as therapists and relax rigor, ease grading, and lessen homework.—
Steven F. Wilson,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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But the only policy lever available to the state, and one whose impact won’t be felt until late May, is to temporarily relax the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to allow a broader range of gasoline to be used.—
James Rector,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Somebody who is just living greatness and never rests on that laurel, but is always pushing herself to expand as an artist.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
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The whole security architecture rests on those layers.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Last week, the prosecution showed the jurors chilling video and audio evidence that included Athena’s last moments after Horner lured her inside the FedEx van.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
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One roach chilled inside a kitchen reach-in freezer.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vegetate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vegetate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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