as in asleep
being in a state of suspended consciousness
a roomful of sleeping preschoolers at a daycare center
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 sleeping
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2026
With no discernible up or down in space, the astronauts strapped into sleeping bags hanging from the walls each night.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Choosing the correct firmness level for your sleeping style is crucial for satisfaction.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
There are multi-room setups, lofted sleeping areas, and enough separation that kids can have their own zone without feeling far away.
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2026
Not all three-season sleeping bags will be rated for the lowest spring temperatures, especially in high elevations where nights will still dip below freezing.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Back sleeping removes that pressure entirely.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
The deep pressure simulates the snug feeling of side sleeping and can reduce the urge to roll over.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Proven treatments, such as side sleeping, nasal strips, oral appliances, and CPAP therapy, are safer and more effective ways to reduce snoring.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
In 2023, she was named a Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to spend a year in Korea, sleeping, eating, recreating, working and, along the way, turning her abstract memories of living there into something more concrete and direct (and sometimes overwhelming).
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
This has led some Americans to wait multiple days, some even sleeping overnight in their cars, to seek free free healthcare from volunteer clinics like Remote Area Medical (RAM).
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Owners of such houses are, unsurprisingly, keen to know what kind of people are sleeping under their roofs.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2026
Inside, most of the available floorspace is taken up by a large multifunctional space that combines living and sleeping areas.
—Adam Williams
april 11, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2026
Based on reviews of 75 Saatva users, sleeping on a Saatva mattress is most often described as supportive, structured and restorative rather than ultra‑soft or sink‑in.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
One of these rooms was used for sleeping and contained a niche where a lamp was placed, as reported by Heritage Daily.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
People are advised to not leave devices charging unattended or while sleeping and to unplug them once they are fully charged.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
Noun
Moments later, Glover’s attempt to read a quote from Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell gets interrupted by Reid flaunting his Canadian flag, while astronaut Christina (Sarah Sherman) floats on by, sleeping and snoring.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2026
With no discernible up or down in space, the astronauts strapped into sleeping bags hanging from the walls each night.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Choosing the correct firmness level for your sleeping style is crucial for satisfaction.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
There are multi-room setups, lofted sleeping areas, and enough separation that kids can have their own zone without feeling far away.
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2026
Not all three-season sleeping bags will be rated for the lowest spring temperatures, especially in high elevations where nights will still dip below freezing.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Back sleeping removes that pressure entirely.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
The deep pressure simulates the snug feeling of side sleeping and can reduce the urge to roll over.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Proven treatments, such as side sleeping, nasal strips, oral appliances, and CPAP therapy, are safer and more effective ways to reduce snoring.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
Not being at the age of viability, and because of the trauma of contractions and delivery on her small body, she was born sleeping.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
In 2023, she was named a Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to spend a year in Korea, sleeping, eating, recreating, working and, along the way, turning her abstract memories of living there into something more concrete and direct (and sometimes overwhelming).
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
This has led some Americans to wait multiple days, some even sleeping overnight in their cars, to seek free free healthcare from volunteer clinics like Remote Area Medical (RAM).
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Owners of such houses are, unsurprisingly, keen to know what kind of people are sleeping under their roofs.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2026
Inside, most of the available floorspace is taken up by a large multifunctional space that combines living and sleeping areas.
—Adam Williams
april 11, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2026
Based on reviews of 75 Saatva users, sleeping on a Saatva mattress is most often described as supportive, structured and restorative rather than ultra‑soft or sink‑in.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
One of these rooms was used for sleeping and contained a niche where a lamp was placed, as reported by Heritage Daily.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
People are advised to not leave devices charging unattended or while sleeping and to unplug them once they are fully charged.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
-
So this is the ideal side gig for early birds who are happy to get their work done while the rest of the world is sound asleep.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Upon arrival, officers found the driver still asleep inside the vehicle.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
It was accompanied by flowers in the design of Minnie Mouse, all the way to her final resting place.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The exhaustion was already setting in last year when thieves broke into the property, taking and damaging more than a dozen headstones from the graveyard, which is the final resting place for hundreds of veterans, including several Union soldiers from the Civil War.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Thao’s toddler grandson was napping on the couch when the immigration agents broke through the door on a Sunday afternoon and forced their way in with guns drawn, according to the family.—
Mark Vancleave,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Uncomfortable pants can make everything from napping in your seat to using the bathroom feel like an arduous task.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This time of year, as calves arrive, ranchers decide whether to retain young cows called heifers and calves for breeding herds, and a big factor is pasture conditions, said Bernt Nelson, an American Farm Bureau Federation economist.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Affordability issues explain part of the apprehension; increasingly, young people have been priced out of the housing market, breeding a resentment that erodes faith in institutions — and in capitalism itself.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Signs warned, caution deers mating.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Following the rescue, Rob Hope — manager of the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, which is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of raptors — told CTV News that fights among eagles are quite common as mating season approaches.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 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 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
