as in wakeful
not sleeping or able to sleep
an insomniac veteran tormented by his memories of the war
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Recent Examples of insomniac
Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
In between, there’s Bluesky on the bus, Spotify at the gym, Instagram at lunch, YouTube before dinner, X for toothbrushing, Pinterest for the insomniac hours.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
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
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
Mike Miller, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Dinner, of course, was only Act I: the glitzy flock later migrated to Tesa 113 at Venice’s Arsenale, where the dancing went on until the hours when only seagulls and insomniacs are awake.
—Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 1 Sep. 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 '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
Adjective
Bear: insomniac clown, randomly does seven back flips in a row, eats raw garlic.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
In between, there’s Bluesky on the bus, Spotify at the gym, Instagram at lunch, YouTube before dinner, X for toothbrushing, Pinterest for the insomniac hours.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
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
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
Noun
To play an emaciated insomniac in The Machinist, Bale underwent one of the most drastic transformations in Hollywood history, whittling his weight down to just 121 lbs.
—Mike Miller, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Dinner, of course, was only Act I: the glitzy flock later migrated to Tesa 113 at Venice’s Arsenale, where the dancing went on until the hours when only seagulls and insomniacs are awake.
—Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 1 Sep. 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 '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
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
-
Stroud is a postseason riser, winning one game in each of the last two playoffs.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Sunrise runs The reward for the early riser is sharing paradise with few others.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The animals were observed sleeping in a dark-light environment and awake during the day.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
-
She was jolted awake to see her kids’ father coming at her, pointing a knife at her chest, prosecutors said.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Even worse, their father's (Richard Armitage) return home seems unlikely with each sleepless night.—
Lydia Price,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
-
The future is bright With Reed back for another year, the Aggies can build upon this while the specter of coming so close to the quarterfinals will make for some sleepless nights.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insomniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insomniac. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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