catnap 1 of 2

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
This is perfect for taking catnaps, reading a book, or spending time with a loved one. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2023 More damningly, unofficially led the league last season in catnaps while his man roasted him on a backdoor cut. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023 During breaks, the crew will retreat into the vessel’s two cramped compartments to converse with their support team via satellite phone, monitor weather conditions, chart their navigation—and, most importantly, tend to their battered bodies while also trying to take 40-minute catnaps. Johnny Dodd, Peoplemag, 9 June 2023 And hey, any excuse for turning off your brain via a quick catnap is probably welcome. Lisa Bain, Good Housekeeping, 26 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for catnap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catnap
Noun
  • Parks aren’t profitable, museums are empty, and the fine citizens of DUMBO just honk their horns at each other when a massive herbivore escapes from the zoo for a nap under the Brooklyn Bridge.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 June 2025
  • Many of them could relate to our results with a personal experience of having a (creative) breakthrough after a nap.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Make as much noise as possible to try and keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from sleeping and force them elsewhere.
    Victoria Valenzuela, USA Today, 1 July 2025
  • One 2024 meta-analysis, for example, found that all manner of sensory experiences—including sounds, smells, flashing lights, physical pressure, and pain—can be incorporated into dreams when people are sleeping and investigators provide the stimulus.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Catnap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catnap. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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