as in wakeful
not sleeping or able to sleep
an insomniac veteran tormented by his memories of the war
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 insomniac
Ryan Hopper, Austin American Statesman, 17 Apr. 2025
Late night used to command attention from insomniacs, college students and marketers looking to reach an audience that was traditionally younger than primetime.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025
While others exhaust themselves and their budgets staying open for ghosts and insomniacs, smart operators perfect their performance when the audience is there.
—Elie Y. Katz, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
The dolphin Dolphins are most likely to self-report as insomniacs.
—Jp Shaffer
july 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2025
Mitski does it too, singing desire and self-doubt like secrets passed from one insomniac to another.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 26 June 2025
The brand’s latest product launch is the Peace Pillow Speaker, a bone-conduction device that’s been designed to help light sleepers and insomniacs enjoy music, podcasts and audiobooks without disturbing their slumbering partner.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
The one thing the insomniac does not envy is the unconscious dead.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The one thing the insomniac does not envy is the unconscious dead.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The four-time Grammy winner dazzled exhibitors with a mini-concert at CinemaCon to jazz them up for the film, which follows a version of himself, an insomniac musician, who encounters a mysterious stranger.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2025
There are some insomniac flies who would like a word.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
The Gorge centers on these two lonely insomniac snipers who connect with one another from towers that are 600 meters apart.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
The movie, based on Chuck Palahniuk’s subversive novel, starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter and followed an insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker who form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024
Every night, inhabitants of the city that never sleeps are kept awake by everything from the sounds of slammed front doors reverberating down hallways to insomniac oboists who could use a few more lessons (ideally during the day).
—Natalie Wexler, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
The kids fill their insomniac parents with love and fear.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
For the insomniac bedmate who turns on the light to read and wakes you up
An eye mask can only do so much.
—Leslie Yazel, wsj.com, 14 Dec. 2023
Adjective
The 'underpaid therapists' The potential ban comes after years of scientific study suggesting medicinal benefits of cannabinoids for many people, from veterans to cancer patients to insomniacs.
—Ryan Hopper, Austin American Statesman, 17 Apr. 2025
Late night used to command attention from insomniacs, college students and marketers looking to reach an audience that was traditionally younger than primetime.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025
While others exhaust themselves and their budgets staying open for ghosts and insomniacs, smart operators perfect their performance when the audience is there.
—Elie Y. Katz, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
The dolphin Dolphins are most likely to self-report as insomniacs.
—Jp Shaffer
july 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2025
Mitski does it too, singing desire and self-doubt like secrets passed from one insomniac to another.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 26 June 2025
The brand’s latest product launch is the Peace Pillow Speaker, a bone-conduction device that’s been designed to help light sleepers and insomniacs enjoy music, podcasts and audiobooks without disturbing their slumbering partner.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
The one thing the insomniac does not envy is the unconscious dead.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The one thing the insomniac does not envy is the unconscious dead.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
Even an insomniac film critic couldn’t see half of the films playing Fantasia 2025 during the three weeks of the festival.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The four-time Grammy winner dazzled exhibitors with a mini-concert at CinemaCon to jazz them up for the film, which follows a version of himself, an insomniac musician, who encounters a mysterious stranger.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2025
There are some insomniac flies who would like a word.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
The Gorge centers on these two lonely insomniac snipers who connect with one another from towers that are 600 meters apart.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
The movie, based on Chuck Palahniuk’s subversive novel, starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter and followed an insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker who form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024
Every night, inhabitants of the city that never sleeps are kept awake by everything from the sounds of slammed front doors reverberating down hallways to insomniac oboists who could use a few more lessons (ideally during the day).
—Natalie Wexler, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
The kids fill their insomniac parents with love and fear.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
For the insomniac bedmate who turns on the light to read and wakes you up
An eye mask can only do so much.
—Leslie Yazel, wsj.com, 14 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insomniac
Adjective
-
Tips to Break the Bedtime Screen Habit Dr. Verma, who was not involved in the research, offers the following tips to prevent wakeful effects from smartphones and get better sleep: Avoid screens 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Lauren Goode: Who among us doesn't want to have a nap gently guided by our wakeful rhythm?—
Lauren Goode,
WIRED,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
On a red carpet, Trump briefly clapped his hands as Putin approached, and the two leaders greeted each other and shook hands, before proceeding to a riser for photo op and military flyover.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 Aug. 2025
-
His presence helped offset the loss of DJ James, a young corner and training camp riser who saw extended action in Davis’ absence.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Our brains interpret light as a signal to stay awake and darkness as a cue to fall asleep.3 Blue light, the type emitted by phones, sends an especially strong signal to the brain.—
Julia Ries,
Health,
12 Aug. 2025
-
But just as these two were unable to stay awake through their first date, their adult bodies aren’t cut out for this trip down memory lane, either.—
Genevieve Koski,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
And one lively female was virtually sleepless, averaging just four minutes of sleep each day.—
Amber Jorgenson,
Discover Magazine,
20 Feb. 2019
-
Practical and Cute Enter the perfect solution to her sleepless nights.—
Amanda Garrity,
Good Housekeeping,
25 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Insomniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insomniac. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share