bleary

adjective

ˈblir-ē How to pronounce bleary (audio)
Definition of blearynext
1
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness disoriented, bleary passengers departing from the red-eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly the bleary outline of a fishing boat could just be seen through the fog

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bleary The action begins during Paris Fashion Week, where a supermodel played by Bella Hadid staggers down the catwalk sweaty and bleary eyed, itching to escape the confines of her red leather Balenciaga ensemble. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 5 Jan. 2026 He was surrounded by his boys from Alabama, trading cracks with a bleary grin. — Nick Stern, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025 These are essentially gothic works, in which bleary, nocturnal isolation opens a door to bizarre impulses and uncanny transformations. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025 If earlier iterations of the lesbian vampire film were Gothic and ornate, Nadja is more shoegaze, captured on bleary black-and-white videotape with an expressionistic flair. — Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bleary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleary
  1. tired
  2. vague
  3. exhausted
  4. faint
  5. weary
  6. hazy
Adjective
  • But after two wars in nine months, there was a sense of tired resignation when news of the airstrikes hit Tehran Wednesday.
    — Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Most transformation requests are really about a bottleneck someone is tired of working around.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • In this case, the vague nature of terms like DEI and CRT can have an even steeper negative impact on classrooms by creating uncertainty among faculty.
    — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
  • OnePlus denied rumors of a shutdown earlier this year, but its language was vague and never promised future phone releases.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • Great Magnificent Mile location for exploring the city, and a cosseting base to retreat to when exhausted.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • There was a pungent smell and a faint buzzing sound coming from the bedroom.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • Though her father has moved to Savannah in the faint hope of reviving his relationship with her and his grandchildren, Anna has wisely kept her distance from him, given his criminal past and his as-yet-unarticulated failings as a parent.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • England’s team plane touched down in Kansas City early Monday morning following a tough World Cup match, and weary players headed to their hotel in Prairie Village.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • Liberal return policies surged during the pandemic, with free return windows that can extend to as much as six months, as lockdown-weary shoppers drove an e-commerce boom.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Definition of weary
Adjective
  • Okay, the Fourth of July is over, and now we’re settled into the lazy, hazy days of summer.
    — Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
  • The phenomenon can dampen chances of rain, cause hazier skies and contribute to even higher temperatures.
    — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of hazy

Browse Nearby Words

blears
bleary
bleary-eyed
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Cite this Entry

“Bleary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleary. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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