night owl

as in nighthawk
a person who is active late at night a night owl whose spouse is more of an early bird

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 night owl Good news for Austin's night owls and moon howlers. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Birding adventure tours are another good option, while night owls might want to explore the coastal stargazing activities. Carole Dixon, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2025 On the other hand, those with a certain chronotype — a natural disposition determined by factors such as age and genetics — may benefit from the habit, Fiala said, referencing a 2023 study which found night owls tend to rely on their snooze button more. Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 26 May 2025 While some people are naturally early birds, others are night owls. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for night owl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for night owl
nighthawk
Noun
  • Whip-poor-wills and nighthawks, for example, feed on moths and other flying insects at night, foraging when there is less competition with other species.
    The New York Times Elaine Chen Emily Anthes, New York Times, 18 May 2023
  • Nantucket: An early common nighthawk at Hummock Pond and 55 roseate terns at Coskata.
    Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2023

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Night owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/night%20owl. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on night owl

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!