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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drowsiness
Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The drugs may also be used to treat other neurological conditions that are accompanied by drowsiness, such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression, and possibly even more broadly.
—Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 Mar. 2026
Afternoons here are deliciously drowsy, spent dozing in the shade, gently parting calm sea water, or gliding past craggy rock formations in a little motor-boat.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drowsiness
Noun
Hydrocodone is a prescription medication intended to treat severe, chronic pain and common side effects include dizziness and drowsiness.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The drugs may also be used to treat other neurological conditions that are accompanied by drowsiness, such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression, and possibly even more broadly.
—Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
People who have trouble sleeping may feel exhausted, drowsy and less awake.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 Mar. 2026
Afternoons here are deliciously drowsy, spent dozing in the shade, gently parting calm sea water, or gliding past craggy rock formations in a little motor-boat.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drowsiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowsiness
Noun
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Some over‑the‑counter products that can pose risks include certain antihistamines, commonly found in allergy and cold remedies, nighttime sleep aids, motion sickness medications, and cough syrups, which can induce sleepiness or slow down cognitive function.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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Other possibilities include another severe sleep disorder called idiosyncratic hypersomnia, as well as other conditions where people experience sleepiness or executive function problems during the day and poor sleep at night, Lilly CEO Dave Ricks said in an interview with CNBC.—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Even that session left me enervated and sleepy.—
Betsy Andrews,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2026
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On this day in 1943, a body was dropped in the ocean near the sleepy shores of Huelva, Spain.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The London Symphony Orchestra and the Escolania de Montserrat i Cor Cambra Palau de la Música Catalana choir bolster the album, their arrangements ranging from anxious and erratic to soothing and hypnotic.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
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This reimagining of a niche Japanese Dreamcast game turns the simple game of squash into a mind-bending journey through space and time, thanks to hypnotic visuals and music.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Zepbound, manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, advertises common side effects on its website that include hair loss, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and more.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
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Even with fatigue and that huge European tie looming, Forest could get something.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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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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From there, the story builds on the uncertainty, rocking the somnolence of a small town in the province of Badajoz, and forcing a community to choose between disbelief and the need to prove what can’t be seen.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
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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
Adjective
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That’s because when the body experiences physical stress, including losing weight quickly, more hairs can shift into a resting phase and fall out a few months later — typically two to three months after the event, Rossi explains.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
17 Feb. 2026
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This is a condition where, due to stress or hormonal changes, the body puts the hair follicles into a resting phase.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drowsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowsiness. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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