drowsiness

as in sleepiness
the quality or state of desiring or needing sleep we tried to fight our drowsiness but fell asleep anyway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 drowsiness But for some people, the supplement has been linked to various side effects including headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, stomach aches, confusion or disorientation, tremors, low blood pressure, irritability, mild anxiety and depression. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025 Bayer also advises that the drug may cause drowsiness and vertigo, and recommends that anyone taking the drug to avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 However, as with many commercial products, these drugs can cause side effects such as drowsiness and can lose efficacy over time. Taylor Lonner, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025 Acute exposure may cause drowsiness, dizziness and headaches, as well as eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation, and unconsciousness at high levels. Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025 Key Takeaways Alcohol and Benadryl both depress the central nervous system (CNS), and combining them can dramatically worsen side effects like drowsiness, slowed breathing, confusion, and impaired coordination. Alex Yampolsky, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2025 While overeating may play a bigger role post-meal drowsiness than tryptophan, research shows tryptophan can affect your sleep quality. Anthea Levi, Health, 26 Sep. 2025 By evening, levels of a hormone called melatonin begin to surge, triggering drowsiness. Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025 Against all of this allegedly heady stuff, the score—by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—intentionally jars us from encroaching drowsiness with chortling woodwinds and shardlike piano chords that are the aural equivalent of jagged Plexiglass off-cuts. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowsiness
Noun
  • The sleep expert hypothesized that the benefits of a foot massage as part of a nightly routine may contribute to sleepiness more than the actual lotion.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Uncomfortable side effects can occur the next day, such as headaches, daytime sleepiness, dizziness, mood changes, upset stomach, intense dreams, disorientation, or confusion.
    Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But Vanderbilt, as attention, pressure and fatigue rise on a pursuit no one outside its camp expected, is essentially two teams with two games left in the 2025 regular season.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Despite widespread fatigue over tipping prompts, Americans still tend to be generous when dining out at restaurants.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The people went to the emergency department with tachycardia, confusion, anxiety or somnolence, and nausea after eating gummy candies labeled as containing Amanita muscaria mushrooms.
    Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 19 July 2024
  • Organized labor shows corporate managements who’s the boss: This year continued the strengthening of union power after decades of somnolence.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2023
Noun
  • About 356 feet long, the station is bigger than a six-bedroom house and has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Experts advised planning for this change two weeks ago by shifting your sleeping schedule a bit each night.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drowsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowsiness. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on drowsiness

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!