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
1
as in sleepy
desiring or needing sleep
the drowsy students shuffled into the first-period class
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
listened to drowsy music while waiting in the dentist's office
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025
Preparation through adequate rest is an important part of avoiding drowsy driving, which could be fatal according to NHTSA.
—Charles Singh, Nashville Tennessean, 9 May 2025
Safety upgrades include a lane-centering system, a surround-view camera system, rear automatic braking, forward collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, lane departure warning and a drowsy driver monitor.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 18 May 2025
Studies have shown that teens who experience a lack of sleep could suffer negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy driving incidents, anxiety, depression, and many more.
—Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for drowsiness
Adjective
Yet the car will likely obey speed limits, never get drowsy or drunk and never rubberneck or give in to road rage.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025
Preparation through adequate rest is an important part of avoiding drowsy driving, which could be fatal according to NHTSA.
—Charles Singh, Nashville Tennessean, 9 May 2025
Safety upgrades include a lane-centering system, a surround-view camera system, rear automatic braking, forward collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, lane departure warning and a drowsy driver monitor.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 18 May 2025
Studies have shown that teens who experience a lack of sleep could suffer negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy driving incidents, anxiety, depression, and many more.
—Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for drowsiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowsiness
Adjective
-
Box Office Mojo reported a slightly different number at $18.0M, but the film still took the top spot during a relatively sleepy box office weekend.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
In the sleepy world of French regional telecommunications, his methods could be shocking.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Their hypnotic live sessions and cultural performances have even earned them their own residency at the popular nightclub venue Hï Ibiza in the Balearic Islands.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
27 Aug. 2025
-
At Puri Saren Palace, dancers in gilded headdresses flick delicate wrists to the hypnotic clang of gamelan—a traditional Indonesian orchestra of gongs, metallophones, and bamboo flutes.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Side effects included extreme fatigue, nausea, mouth sores, and hair loss. Amber, who had always worn her blonde hair long, cut off 12 inches to prepare.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Chronic fatigue, insomnia, burnout, and sleep medication dependency have become so common that they’re often dismissed as the cost of ambition.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Aug. 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
Adjective
-
During the resting phase, hair stops growing and will shed, or fall out.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
10 July 2025
-
Telogen Stage The telogen stage of the hair cycle is a resting phase, during which the hair doesn't grow, and the follicle is dormant.1 About 10% to 15% of the hairs on your body are in this resting phase at any one time, which typically lasts for a few months.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
13 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drowsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowsiness. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share