Synonyms: passive, passive voice
Definition: the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb
Usage: `The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice; `The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive
Similar words: voice
Definition: (linguistics) the grammatical relation (active or passive) of the grammatical subject of a verb to the action that the verb denotes
Definition: lacking in energy or will
Usage: Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself- George Meredith
Similar words: hands-off
Definition: not involving participation or intervention
Usage: a hands-off foreign policy
Similar words: resistless, unresisting, supine
Definition: offering no resistance
Usage: resistless hostages; No other colony showed such supine, selfish helplessness in allowing her own border citizens to be mercilessly harried- Theodore Roosevelt
Definition: peacefully resistant in response to injustice
Usage: passive resistance
Similar words: nonviolent
Definition: abstaining (on principle) from the use of violence