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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sleeping
desiring or needing sleep
the sleepy children were carried up to bed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dull
slow to move or act
a sleepy little town on the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation
a sleepy party that was mostly attended by the same boring people I work with
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleepiness
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
Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
In theaters Friday after a strong reception at SXSW last month, the genre-scrambling, darkly comic neo-western casts him as Ulysses, a principled small-town sheriff who takes a temporary posting in a sleepy corner of Minnesota called Normal.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleepiness
Noun
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
Adjective
While other Caribbean islands can be sleepy (too sleepy, sometimes) at night, the fun is just getting started when the sun sets in Curaçao.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
In theaters Friday after a strong reception at SXSW last month, the genre-scrambling, darkly comic neo-western casts him as Ulysses, a principled small-town sheriff who takes a temporary posting in a sleepy corner of Minnesota called Normal.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleepiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepiness
Noun
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If your office doesn’t have good airflow, these gases can irritate the eyes and airways and cause headaches, fatigue, and drowsiness.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
14 Apr. 2026
-
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
Adjective
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An autopsy showed that the infant died from asphyxiation secondary to a co-sleeping/overlay event with an unsafe sleeping environment.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This product is the one to reach for when your skin looks dull or tired.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Never a dull day in Frisco with the Dallas Cowboys.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The novel delivers all the frenzy of a gold rush with rhythmic, hypnotic prose.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Whether built as a hypnotic, recurring shape, a rampant contagion or both, music this uncompromising and unpredictable always carries a message for those who need to hear it.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
He is limited on passing downs and is more of a slow-burn pocket pusher than a man with a plan.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In some cases, lenders may cover the costs of buydown for you (either partially or in full), if the market is particularly slow.—
Aly J Yale,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When Elias Manolis started experiencing extreme fatigue early last year, his parents were alarmed, but not surprised.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Pain, fatigue, medication schedules, and appointments start to shape everything.—
Ana Jarzin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s because when the body experiences physical stress, including losing weight quickly, more hairs can shift into a resting phase and fall out a few months later — typically two to three months after the event, Rossi explains.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
17 Feb. 2026
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This is a condition where, due to stress or hormonal changes, the body puts the hair follicles into a resting phase.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Giants third base coach Hector Borg waved Lee home, trying to take advantage of the wet conditions and a lazy throw back to the infield, but the Dodgers nabbed Lee with feet to spare.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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That film felt rushed, inconsistent, and lazy.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleepiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepiness. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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