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
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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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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
Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Mention any daytime symptoms, such as excessive sleepiness or headaches, and any nighttime symptoms, such as frequent urination, waking up short of breath, snoring or insomnia.
—Erika Yamazaki, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 6 May 2026
American restaurant Third Street Social opened Thursday, bringing a steady crowd to downtown Olathe, which has been long known as a sleepy area.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleepiness
Noun
Researchers measured insomnia severity using the Insomnia Severity Index, along with sleep maintenance, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, anxiety and depression symptoms.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Mention any daytime symptoms, such as excessive sleepiness or headaches, and any nighttime symptoms, such as frequent urination, waking up short of breath, snoring or insomnia.
—Erika Yamazaki, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Adjective
The president endorsed their challengers and his allies spent millions of dollars in what are normally sleepy state legislative races.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 6 May 2026
American restaurant Third Street Social opened Thursday, bringing a steady crowd to downtown Olathe, which has been long known as a sleepy area.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleepiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepiness
Noun
-
Using several sedating products together can cause more drowsiness, dizziness, or tiredness the next day.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
29 Apr. 2026
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The practical effect is a calmer, less reactive brain at bedtime, without any drowsiness.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 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
-
The world of college football is rarely dull.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
This charger brings interactivity and enthusiasm to this process that has been viewed as so dull for so long.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The prose is hypnotic, all the more so for its many digressions and parentheses, unveiling tiny set pieces like so many Fabergé eggs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
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The race there begins somberly in the museum before runners bound up one flight of stairs into a hallway that leads into the main stairwell; from there, the steps settle into continuous, shallow right turns providing a repetitive, hypnotic cadence.—
Michelle Sinclair Colman,
Curbed,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Pool service can be a bit slow during busy times, but once your perfectly prepared daiquiri arrives, all is forgiven.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
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So future agreements could involve cooler normalisation, selective security cooperation, quieter diplomacy and a slower expansion.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The lightweight, secure fit helps avoid ear fatigue associated with traditional earbuds, while Bluetooth connectivity makes pairing simple.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
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Viewer fatigue is less of a factor when stakes are raised down the stretch, though.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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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
-
Make Waves Let your cares float away with lazy beach days, shimmering pools, and the family-favorite Captiva Landing, which takes fun to new heights with five acres of activity.—
South Seas,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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The water park is open on weekends in May and features exciting water rides, a relaxing lazy river, and wave pool.—
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleepiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepiness. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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