drowse 1 of 2

Definition of drowsenext
as in nap
a short sleep was just falling into a drowse when you called

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drowse

2 of 2

verb

as in to nap
to sleep lightly or briefly picnickers drowsing in the shade of an oak tree

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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 drowse
Noun
The wealthy suburb of Phoenix drowses in the heat of the Sonoran Desert, sprinkled with luxury resorts catering to snowbirds in what Arizonans call the Valley of the Sun. Lynette Rice, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2019
Verb
Bear in mind that those 55 million impressions were totted up long before Nielsen began counting scores of drowsing aunts and hyperactive toddlers among its national TV deliveries. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Nov. 2025 The feast is digested by now at our house and the tryptophan is kicking in, but the late game is too good to drowse on. Miami Herald, 25 Nov. 2025 Jena looked over at the man’s camel, drowsing alongside the tent. Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025 Stars lounged and drowsed: Muhammad Ali with a newspaper, Peter Cook in his old mac on a lilo in a Hollywood pool. The Economist, 21 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowse
Noun
  • Marcotte says the pair remained at the arena throughout the whole day, following their practice in the morning, and following a nap, Kihara seemed to have shaken off the previous day’s mistake.
    Alice Park, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Scarlet Darkness Floral Cottagecore Dress Romantics, cottagecore fans, and anyone who’s ever fawned over the cult-favorite Hill House Home nap dress should add the lookalike Scarlet Darkness Floral Cottagecore Dress to their carts immediately.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Long-haul travelers can opt for a head and shoulder reliever or a fragrant, relaxing bath infused with indigenous flowers.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Advertisement The ruling also relaxes limits on a number of other pollutants released by burning coal, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel.
    Simmone Shah, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The nurses, teachers, soldiers and everyone else on her massage table, resting up to go at it again.
    Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Doctors advised Harrington to rest for four to six weeks and this is the fourth.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In fact, on many nights I could be found dozing in the chair with her tiny body curled onto my chest.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Shot in gorgeous widescreen (an unusual format for documentaries), the movie catalogs all the way people behave around what appears to be a single bear, first seen dozing with her two cubs.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The supermassive black hole sitting at the heart of our galaxy is considered to be a slumbering giant.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • In a mood to slumber all day, to the tune of conversations held by cartoon mice?
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drowse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowse. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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