as in sleeping
being in a state of suspended consciousness
the dozing dog was running—at least in his dream
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in napping
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself
dozing is a natural response to the stifling heat of summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in resting
to be in a state of sleep
likes to doze through those lazy summer afternoons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in snoozing
to sleep lightly or briefly
she dozed fitfully in the car but never fell completely asleep
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dozing
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
There’s no dozing off in his sessions.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
People sleep with earplugs for many reasons, like excessive city noise, loud neighbors, or even a snoring partner dozing next to them.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
In the harsh afternoon sun, it was deserted except for dogs dozing on the rocks, and lovers seeking a shred of privacy.
—Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
She gets literally tucked in, waking up cozy to the sound of rain on the slanted roof and dozing only to wake again to the bright morning sun.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, in the skies above, Air Canada passenger Rebecca Liquori was dozing in her seat by the exit row after a quick weekend trip to Montreal for a relative’s baby shower.
—Elizabeth Chuck, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
In his Friday testimony, Ye yawned, closed his eyes for long stretches, and at times seemed to catch his head falling forward as if dozing while seated on the witness stand.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Babies and young children attend events into the wee hours of the night, often falling asleep in someone’s arms or dozing across several chairs.
—Katrina Donham, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026
Not worrying about these wakeups could make all the difference in dozing back off easily.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
His backdrop was a colorful tableau of posters, a neon sign, and a dozing dog.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Lily is the quickest to figure out the detective stories that George reads them every evening in the field, but otherwise smarts count for little in a quiet life of grazing and dozing.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
There’s no dozing off in his sessions.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
A little walk to Ayu Bakehouse, especially in the early morning while most of the neighborhood is still dozing, is a great start to the day.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
People sleep with earplugs for many reasons, like excessive city noise, loud neighbors, or even a snoring partner dozing next to them.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
In the harsh afternoon sun, it was deserted except for dogs dozing on the rocks, and lovers seeking a shred of privacy.
—Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
She gets literally tucked in, waking up cozy to the sound of rain on the slanted roof and dozing only to wake again to the bright morning sun.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, in the skies above, Air Canada passenger Rebecca Liquori was dozing in her seat by the exit row after a quick weekend trip to Montreal for a relative’s baby shower.
—Elizabeth Chuck, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
In his Friday testimony, Ye yawned, closed his eyes for long stretches, and at times seemed to catch his head falling forward as if dozing while seated on the witness stand.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Babies and young children attend events into the wee hours of the night, often falling asleep in someone’s arms or dozing across several chairs.
—Katrina Donham, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026
Not worrying about these wakeups could make all the difference in dozing back off easily.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dozing
Adjective
-
An autopsy showed that the infant died from asphyxiation secondary to a co-sleeping/overlay event with an unsafe sleeping environment.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As comfort was key in the sunroom and library where a daybed became a daily napping spot, the windows were covered in custom Pindler curtain fabrics to withstand the sun.—
Anne Hardy,
Architectural Digest,
23 Apr. 2026
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Morning naps were linked to about a 30% increase in mortality risk, and each additional hour of daily napping was associated with about a 13% higher risk, the study found.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Harris introduces us to the girls in a sepia flashback, their small bodies clad in matching dresses, one head resting on the other’s shoulder.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
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What makes the business especially impressive is that its success is not resting on personality alone.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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But the underlying mechanism is well-established — a landmark 1999 study in Nature found foot vasodilation was the single strongest physiological predictor of how quickly someone falls asleep.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
-
Guests are encouraged to fall asleep during the session — making rest itself the treatment.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Noun
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About 15 million Americans work the night shift, and their sleep struggles carry stakes far beyond feeling tired.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 May 2026
-
Her endorsement, paired with research on how the blankets affect stress hormones, has helped turn a once-niche sleep accessory into a mainstream wellness staple.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is also dog-friendly, with the Noble Paws program offering amenities and packages for your pup, with options like a cozy dog bed, treat, toy, and food and water bowls.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
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Outside, the property continues down the hillside in terraces meant for gathering, play and gardening, with landscaped areas and raised planting beds below.—
David Caraccio
May 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Your unconscious worked the alarm’s chime into your slumber.—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
12 May 2026
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The women were shown snoozing while the movie did its best to not disturb their slumber—revealing an additional, crucial poignancy.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The nights grew so chilly that Djena would go to a public rest room and use a hand dryer to warm herself.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The best tropical vacation spots offer an abundance of choice for rest, play, and all the joys in between.—
Skyli Alvarez,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dozing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dozing. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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