Synonyms of sleep

sleep 1 of 2

noun

ˈslēp 

1

as in bed

a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself

neither of them has been getting much sleep since the baby was born

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bed
• slumber
• napping
• resting
• slumbering
• rest
• nap
• shut-eye
• dozing
• snoozing
• catnapping
• dreaming
• repose
• doze
• catnap
• drowse
• snooze
• siesta
• wink
• forty winks
• oversleeping
• z's
• rapid eye movement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• consciousness
• wake
• wakefulness
• insomnia
• sleeplessness

2

as in death

the state of being dead

a grieving widower longing to join his beloved wife in her eternal sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• death
• dead
• mortality
• grave
• deadness
• nothingness
• lifelessness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• life
• existence
• immortality
• lifetime
• lifespan

3

as in fate

the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities

regretfully put their terminally ill dog to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• death
• fate
• demise
• passing
• doom
• curtains
• grave
• exit
• dissolution
• decease
• passage
• end
• quietus
• expiration
• suicide
• expiry
• great divide
• destruction
• fatality
• assassination
• casualty
• execution
• martyrdom
• killing
• slaughter
• annihilation
• ending
• ruin
• extermination
• self-slaughter
• massacre
• self-destruction
• self-murder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• birth
• life
• existence
• nativity
• rise
• creation
• genesis
• origination

sleep

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to rest

to be in a state of sleep

the baby slept for the entire length of the car trip

found the night watchman sleeping at his post

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rest
• nap
• slumber
• doze
• snooze
• dream
• catnap
• drop off
• sleep in
• oversleep
• nod off
• hibernate
• drowse (off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• arise
• wake
• awake
• arouse

2

as in to breed

to engage in sexual intercourse

if I don't read the tabloids, how will I know who is sleeping with whom this week?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• breed
• mate
• have sex
• copulate
• do it
• fornicate
• fool around

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sleep

Noun

Toss in plenty of brutal murders, bizarre prophecies, time-bending enigmas, and haunting hallucinations — all seemingly tied to Lucy’s mysterious meetings with the Hannibal Lecter-like Gideon Shepherd (Peter Capaldi) — and this one's well worth losing six hours of sleep over. —Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026

Over time, your mattress collects sweat, dead skin cells and allergens that can disrupt your sleep and trigger allergy symptoms. —Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026

Verb

And don’t sleep on the deep soaking tub in the bathroom nestled right up against a huge floor-to-ceiling window. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2026

Be flexible with those temperatures, since comfort can vary by person and people who sleep hot or are experiencing hormonal changes tend to prefer the cooler end of the range. —Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing sleep

• put to sleep