1
as in sleeping
desiring or needing sleep
the sleepy children were carried up to bed
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2
as in dull
slow to move or act
a sleepy little town on the coast
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3
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge
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4
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation
a sleepy party that was mostly attended by the same boring people I work with
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleepy
There’s no better name for a Fort Worth barbecue joint, either, for like that apocryphal panther, the city’s once-sleepy barbecue scene has awakened and begun to roar.
—
Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
For a young Federico Marchetti, growing up in this sleepy seaside town of 150,000 along the Adriatic coast, these masterpieces weren’t just tourist attractions but his first lessons in merging beauty and business.
—Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Take the sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosus) of Australia.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
The image of your mother being too sleepy to enjoy the spoils of her own hard work—or to even be fully present as her children enjoyed those spoils—struck me as such a succinct encapsulation of her sacrifice and her heroism, as well as their drawbacks.
—G'ra Asim
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
For a young Federico Marchetti, growing up in this sleepy seaside town of 150,000 along the Adriatic coast, these masterpieces weren’t just tourist attractions but his first lessons in merging beauty and business.
—Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Take the sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosus) of Australia.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
The image of your mother being too sleepy to enjoy the spoils of her own hard work—or to even be fully present as her children enjoyed those spoils—struck me as such a succinct encapsulation of her sacrifice and her heroism, as well as their drawbacks.
—G'ra Asim
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepy
Adjective
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Boosting Serum is a lightweight, brightening formula designed to even tone and revive dull, tired skin.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
25 Sep. 2025
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The best clarifying shampoo can completely transform a lackluster shower routine, deep cleansing hair, exfoliating the scalp, and banishing excess oils and product buildup that leave strands flat, dull, or frizz-prone.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Spacey guitar, hypnotic synths and jazzy percussion bubbled under Zardoya's spell-binding vocals.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
22 Sep. 2025
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The hypnotic audio track that follows visitors throughout the maze is mesmerizing — just like Mesmer the hypnotist who preys on your inner thoughts and hidden fears.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The slow start that Mayfield is alluding to has to do with the Buccaneers only scoring two field goals through the first half, and scoring their first touchdown well into the third quarter.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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Construction in the section of Jackson Park, often described as Chicago’s equivalent of Central Park, has been slow.—
Christine Valora,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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During the resting phase, hair stops growing and will shed, or fall out.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
10 July 2025
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Green Bay could finish as high as sixth in the NFC if the resting Rams lose to the 49ers, potentially setting up a first-round matchup against the division-rival Lions.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2024
Adjective
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Grab one for your own couch to prepare for movie nights and lazy mornings, or stock up to get a head start on holiday shopping.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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Sarin Mathews Women’s Sweatpants A comfortable pair of pants is a wardrobe essential for everything from long flights to lazy days at home.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There’s nothing quite as soothing as the drowsy calmness that washes over you when your partner runs their hands through your hair.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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The DeWine administration cited driver safety as a catalyst for the project: officials noted that truck drivers who can't find a parking spot are known to drive drowsy or pull over to sleep in unsafe areas.—
Annie Goldman,
The Enquirer,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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The lengthy pre-copulation stage involved all three sharks motionless on the seafloor for nearly an hour, after which the female started swimming with one male shark biting onto each of her pectoral fins.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
23 Sep. 2025
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Watching mainstream British politicians obsess over the threat of Farage is a bit like watching the video on the internet of the guy standing motionless on the beach in Thailand, the water draining around his ankles, waiting for the tsunami to arrive.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Unfortunately, the infectious energy of the scare zone gets completely lost in the lethargic and drowsy maze.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
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At first, Walters feared the chicken might not survive—describing her as lethargic and depressed.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepy. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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