as in drowsiness
the quality or state of desiring or needing sleep
the truck driver keeps a thermos of coffee with him to stave off sleepiness
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Recent Examples of sleepiness
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
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
What’s more, by helping to maintain neutral cervical positioning, posture-supporting pillows may help improve sleep comfort and reduce waking symptoms such as tension headaches and daytime sleepiness, as Tara Phaff, DPT explains.
—Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2026
Symptoms include decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up, crying with few or no tears, and unusual sleepiness or fussiness.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026
Boost Energy and Alertness Taking a walk in the morning has been associated with lower daytime sleepiness and improved alertness during the day.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2026
At higher doses, kratom reduces anxiety and causes sleepiness, the way strong pain drugs like opioids (heroin or fentanyl) do.
—Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Brighter recent light was also linked to lower sleepiness at any time of day, but this was strongest in the participants with the brightest light exposure during the day and who also had earlier bedtimes.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026
Your balloon fills up with sleepiness throughout the day.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Jan. 2026
Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
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
What’s more, by helping to maintain neutral cervical positioning, posture-supporting pillows may help improve sleep comfort and reduce waking symptoms such as tension headaches and daytime sleepiness, as Tara Phaff, DPT explains.
—Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2026
Symptoms include decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up, crying with few or no tears, and unusual sleepiness or fussiness.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026
Boost Energy and Alertness Taking a walk in the morning has been associated with lower daytime sleepiness and improved alertness during the day.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2026
At higher doses, kratom reduces anxiety and causes sleepiness, the way strong pain drugs like opioids (heroin or fentanyl) do.
—Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Brighter recent light was also linked to lower sleepiness at any time of day, but this was strongest in the participants with the brightest light exposure during the day and who also had earlier bedtimes.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026
Your balloon fills up with sleepiness throughout the day.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepiness
Noun
-
Edwards went to the emergency room at Ysbyty Bronglais in the town of Aberystwyth, where her condition worsened with increasing drowsiness, severe confusion and loss of coordination.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Blue light does suppress melatonin, the hormone that signals drowsiness, and can delay the body’s circadian clock.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Symptoms include fatigue, sensitivity to cold, and muscle stiffness.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
For example, fatigue is reported in some GLP-1 trials.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This Cabeau Evolution Travel Pillow is designed specifically for upright sleeping, with ergonomic neck support that keeps your head from falling forward or side to side.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The Steward family argued the case may ultimately hinge on critical physical evidence, such as campers’ sleeping cabins that were in place at the time of the disaster.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Sleepiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepiness. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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