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
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Our editors love the Beckham Hotel Collection Pillows just as much as five-star reviewers—many of whom are insomniacs—do, too.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
After all, what is the insomniac doing in the middle of the night but going over the past again and again?
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
And for a generation of insomniacs, nothing embodied the late-night spirit like Adult Swim.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Even for seasoned insomniacs, these changes can feel drastic.
—Ellen O’Brien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2026
Early risers and insomniacs alike know an entirely different Kansas City.
—Sofi Zeman
january 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
Schoolchildren, insomniacs and everyone in between began stumbling onto this little gem and telling their friends about it.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Europe's most exquisite portrait of an insomniac, as dazzling after such a day in the sun as the moon itself.
—Antonia Quirke, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 May 2024
Adjective
Ergonomic and more inherently cooling than memory foam, the luxury home buy can last you a lifetime — one marked by the kind of sleep that can make any insomniac jealous.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Taqueria Hoy remains a refuge for factory workers, restaurant crews, tipsy clubbers, cops, families, insomniacs and others hungry in between.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Our editors love the Beckham Hotel Collection Pillows just as much as five-star reviewers—many of whom are insomniacs—do, too.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
After all, what is the insomniac doing in the middle of the night but going over the past again and again?
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
And for a generation of insomniacs, nothing embodied the late-night spirit like Adult Swim.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Even for seasoned insomniacs, these changes can feel drastic.
—Ellen O’Brien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2026
Early risers and insomniacs alike know an entirely different Kansas City.
—Sofi Zeman
january 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
Schoolchildren, insomniacs and everyone in between began stumbling onto this little gem and telling their friends about it.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Europe's most exquisite portrait of an insomniac, as dazzling after such a day in the sun as the moon itself.
—Antonia Quirke, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 May 2024
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
-
With his movement skills and upside, Shelton was poised to be a riser throughout the 2025 season.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
The unit has dual handles on the massive build plate, as well as a T-clamp that locks the build plate to the riser assembly with a solid and positive snap.—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
After Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, had gone to bed, Kellen and Levine were still awake, Kellen said.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
The right one should be able to identify what is actually keeping you awake.—
Emily Cegielski,
Flow Space,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
An all-stock portfolio would mean sleepless nights for a saver no longer in the work force.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
And while a $3,000 mattress or a 22-step wind-down routine may look like the answer to your sleepless nights, the real answer is likely to be far more accessible, like keeping a consistent sleep-wake schedule and sharpening your sleep hygiene.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insomniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insomniac. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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