as in asleep
being in a state of suspended consciousness
a roomful of sleeping preschoolers at a daycare center
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in resting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in napping
to be in a state of sleep
the baby slept for the entire length of the car trip found the night watchman sleeping at his post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in breeding
to engage in sexual intercourse
if I don't read the tabloids, how will I know who is sleeping with whom this week?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleeping
Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
In the case of this bill, an accessory dwelling unit is a secondary living space that has its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Thousands of touchpoints across the surface are there to hug and contour your sleeping self, and the topper’s thick straps are ones that won’t pop off your mattress after a particularly restless night.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Along with tiny home communities, the city also opened two safe parking sites, a safe sleeping area, and converted several hotels and motels into temporary housing.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
This bed is also well-suited for any couple with different sleeping styles.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026
The bound, heavy scriptures were placed on the cot and carried off in a procession to its sleeping quarters.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Spread over a single level, the home flows from public entertaining spaces to more casual family gathering areas to the sleeping quarters.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026
The compact structure included a 475-square-foot walkout basement dug into the hillside, which would serve as Brand’s office, and a 450-square-foot living space above with a sleeping loft.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Nathan Diller, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The bedrooms retain the traditional alcova layout, a shallow, arched niche historically used for sleeping.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
In some cases, sleeping separately can actually improve sleep, and consequently happiness.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
McKenzie Weinert and Catherine Barry executed a simple give-and-go in the 52nd minute that caught Carolina’s backline sleeping.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2026
Choose a deluxe cabin for the full crew, which comes with either two queen beds or a queen bed and a pull-out sofa, sleeping up to four people.
—Jenny Willden, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
Making sure your kids are tucked in and sleeping is one of the best feelings as a parent, even when things didn’t go right during the day.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Sonny Fouts, 71, has had a headache, stomachache and trouble sleeping since seeing news reports that the 37-year-old ICU nurse had been fatally shot by ICE agents Saturday, the vet and retired musician told People.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
According to that report, an anonymous Department of Homeland Security official reported witnessing pregnant women sleeping on floors in overcrowded intake cells.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
With a 190-square-foot living area, two bedrooms, and an additional sleeping loft, this cabin has plenty of space.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
In the case of this bill, an accessory dwelling unit is a secondary living space that has its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Thousands of touchpoints across the surface are there to hug and contour your sleeping self, and the topper’s thick straps are ones that won’t pop off your mattress after a particularly restless night.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Along with tiny home communities, the city also opened two safe parking sites, a safe sleeping area, and converted several hotels and motels into temporary housing.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
This bed is also well-suited for any couple with different sleeping styles.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026
The bound, heavy scriptures were placed on the cot and carried off in a procession to its sleeping quarters.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Spread over a single level, the home flows from public entertaining spaces to more casual family gathering areas to the sleeping quarters.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026
The compact structure included a 475-square-foot walkout basement dug into the hillside, which would serve as Brand’s office, and a 450-square-foot living space above with a sleeping loft.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
Cruise operators also generally try to cross the roughest waters while guests are sleeping.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The bedrooms retain the traditional alcova layout, a shallow, arched niche historically used for sleeping.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
In some cases, sleeping separately can actually improve sleep, and consequently happiness.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
McKenzie Weinert and Catherine Barry executed a simple give-and-go in the 52nd minute that caught Carolina’s backline sleeping.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2026
Choose a deluxe cabin for the full crew, which comes with either two queen beds or a queen bed and a pull-out sofa, sleeping up to four people.
—Jenny Willden, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
Making sure your kids are tucked in and sleeping is one of the best feelings as a parent, even when things didn’t go right during the day.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Sonny Fouts, 71, has had a headache, stomachache and trouble sleeping since seeing news reports that the 37-year-old ICU nurse had been fatally shot by ICE agents Saturday, the vet and retired musician told People.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
According to that report, an anonymous Department of Homeland Security official reported witnessing pregnant women sleeping on floors in overcrowded intake cells.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
-
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo said the five-second video showed the young woman asleep at the time.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Long-haul and overnight flights, for example, give thieves ample time and opportunity to peruse through suitcases and personal item bags while passengers are asleep, says Figgins.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Scientists have spent decades searching for the final resting place of Luna 9, the first spacecraft to soft-land on the moon.—
Ilya Ferapontov,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Even followers of British royalty can make a heritage visit to the final resting place of Princess Alice of Battenberg, grandmother of King Charles, who is entombed on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Outside a tent, Dunk is told, by two of the show’s jaded yet cheerful prostitutes, that Ser Manfred is busy napping.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The low, boxy silhouette is ripe for secret-sharing or cat-napping.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The report states that the breeding population of bears is expanding into more cities and towns.—
Sasha Allen,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Nuka had lived at the Detroit Zoo from 2011 to 2022, and then was moved to the Toledo Zoo in 2022 for breeding efforts with female polar bear Crystal.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By the Middle Ages, people in France and England believed birds began mating around that time of year, reinforcing the connection to romance.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Frequent mate switching combined with low reproductive ‘skew’ and possibly the active avoidance of mating with close relatives, may be effective strategies to maintaining the genetic health of relatively small populations.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s no dozing off in his sessions.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleeping. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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