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
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Two guest rooms — ideal for Kamal and Riva’s twin daughters — connect through a former sleeping porch with a fireplace and built-ins, creating flexible space for an office, hobby room or hangout area.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Biggest Bed’s aim was to raise awareness for children and teens who lack proper sleeping accommodations in the face of natural disasters, abuse, and poverty.
—Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 12 June 2026
Pitch a tent and bring out the sleeping bags.
—Parents, 11 June 2026
Following the 2024 Supreme Court ruling that gave local and state governments greater power to criminalize sleeping and camping in public spaces, Newsom unveiled a model ordinance designed to require people living in public spaces to relocate or face arrest.
—Philip Wang, Time, 9 June 2026
This includes waterproof rain jackets and winter coats, mattress pads, shower curtains, backpacks, and sleeping bags.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
For the last two mornings, both women had peeled themselves out of their sleeping bags before sunrise.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
Supertramp even steps up available sleeping capacity to six people with its integrated pop-up rooftop tent option.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2026
Nicky Zizaza, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The sleeping alcove offers more privacy than the typical studio due to floor-to-ceiling built-ins.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 June 2026
One of Birmingham’s starters, JJ Rodriguez, lost his father, who didn’t wake up while sleeping at home.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
An additional 20 housekeeping cottages, sleeping up to six, are available at the lodge.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026
These zones changed throughout the mission for sleeping, eating, taking pictures, calling home and of course, doing science.
—New Atlas, 6 June 2026
Users can quickly set up the cabin for working, entertaining, or sleeping thanks to one-touch scene modes.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Accommodations range from deluxe, superior, and premier to urban, and two penthouses, the latter of which are a statement stay that seem better suited for entertaining than sleeping.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In the house Gita lives in, kinship is learned through daily friction, through the particular silence that means someone is upset, through the understanding of who to wake and who not to disturb while sleeping.
—Vogue, 1 June 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
Great sleeping weather Monday night as temperatures dip into the upper 50s with a starlit sky.
—Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Two guest rooms — ideal for Kamal and Riva’s twin daughters — connect through a former sleeping porch with a fireplace and built-ins, creating flexible space for an office, hobby room or hangout area.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Biggest Bed’s aim was to raise awareness for children and teens who lack proper sleeping accommodations in the face of natural disasters, abuse, and poverty.
—Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 12 June 2026
Pitch a tent and bring out the sleeping bags.
—Parents, 11 June 2026
Following the 2024 Supreme Court ruling that gave local and state governments greater power to criminalize sleeping and camping in public spaces, Newsom unveiled a model ordinance designed to require people living in public spaces to relocate or face arrest.
—Philip Wang, Time, 9 June 2026
This includes waterproof rain jackets and winter coats, mattress pads, shower curtains, backpacks, and sleeping bags.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
For the last two mornings, both women had peeled themselves out of their sleeping bags before sunrise.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
Supertramp even steps up available sleeping capacity to six people with its integrated pop-up rooftop tent option.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2026
Verb
After receiving medication, the preschooler appeared to be sleeping peacefully on his mother's chest.
—Nicky Zizaza, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The sleeping alcove offers more privacy than the typical studio due to floor-to-ceiling built-ins.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 June 2026
One of Birmingham’s starters, JJ Rodriguez, lost his father, who didn’t wake up while sleeping at home.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
An additional 20 housekeeping cottages, sleeping up to six, are available at the lodge.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026
These zones changed throughout the mission for sleeping, eating, taking pictures, calling home and of course, doing science.
—New Atlas, 6 June 2026
Users can quickly set up the cabin for working, entertaining, or sleeping thanks to one-touch scene modes.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Accommodations range from deluxe, superior, and premier to urban, and two penthouses, the latter of which are a statement stay that seem better suited for entertaining than sleeping.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In the house Gita lives in, kinship is learned through daily friction, through the particular silence that means someone is upset, through the understanding of who to wake and who not to disturb while sleeping.
—Vogue, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
-
The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and the children were found safe and asleep in their room.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Trump has been accused of falling asleep at Cabinet and Oval Office meetings, though has denied several incidents.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
That's because the 250-foot structure would be built on a roundabout near the main entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for over 400,000 active-duty service members, veterans and their families.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
10 June 2026
-
Set in 10th century Vietnam, the film follows seven warriors on a secret mission to create a strategic diversion to ensure that the final resting place of Vietnam’s first Emperor remains an eternal mystery.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
But, during the close and intense matchup, the president appeared to be caught napping in his seat.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 June 2026
-
The pair posted more photos of their bundles of joy over the next month, including one of the twins napping in matching Knicks jerseys next to a basketball, and another of the new parents cuddling their babies at home.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
There were also breeding facilities in the state.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
-
Most snakes start breeding in spring after winter dormancy, making summer the prime time to encounter one of several venomous snake species found from western Missouri to Wichita.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Lily is the quickest to figure out the detective stories that George reads them every evening in the field, but otherwise smarts count for little in a quiet life of grazing and dozing.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There’s no dozing off in his sessions.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By mating with sterile flies, the females don't produce more flies and outbreaks can eventually be halted.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
By mating with sterile flies, the females don’t produce more flies and outbreaks can eventually be halted.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleeping. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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