Definition of catnapnext
as in nap
a short sleep a catnap left me refreshed enough to face the rest of the day

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catnap

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to sleep
to be in a state of sleep the children are catnapping, so please be quiet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to nap
to sleep lightly or briefly catnapped for 10 minutes and then went back to work

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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 catnap
Noun
Putt-putting at low altitudes, taking catnaps to steal sleep, nearly slamming into a mountain in Africa and almost ditching in the Pacific Ocean, the Voyager and its crew limped home on fumes from empty fuel tanks two days before Christmas. Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 8 May 2024 And your own cat is to thank for the inspiration behind Godzilla’s catnaps in the Colosseum? Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
The sea breeze rushed in and carried me off to catnap under a Nido Notte Italian wool blanket in bed. Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for catnap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catnap
Noun
  • Endless football, someone raving about artichoke dip, young parents discussing nap schedules.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Fish that spent more of their inactive, sleep-like periods at night generally lived longer, while those that showed more inactivity during the day — the fish version of an afternoon nap — tended to have shorter lifespans.
    Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • By chance, her parents and her sister had left the house just three days before the strike, because her mother couldn’t sleep.
    Ava Bambuck, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Samsung noted that my BMI could be better, but gave me high grades for my average activity, blood pressure, and sleep time.
    Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Catnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catnap. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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