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
Giada Storelli, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2026
Inside the guests suites feature a sleeping area, relaxed living zone, bathroom, and private outdoor terrace.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
The 4,300-square-foot aerie begins on the third floor, where the private sleeping quarters are located.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026
That said, the two-bedroom suite offers more than enough space, with separate sleeping areas and a living room that makes multi-night stays comfortable.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
Don’t overlook bedrooms, though, especially those with bunk beds where sleeping kids are in danger from the open blades of traditional ceiling fans.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
In this 200-page book, Hostetter teaches you how to make lasting repairs to everything from fabrics to boots, tents, sleeping pads, kitchenware, stoves, and more.
—Ebony Roberts, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Staff also sheltered at the resort, with sleeping quarters set up in a common space and beach chairs for makeshift beds.
—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 26 Feb. 2026
Co-sleeping Is More Common While the debate rages on in America about whether or not co-sleeping is safe, in many African countries, including Kenya and South Africa, as well as Latin America, co-sleeping—whether bed-sharing or room-sharing—is an accepted practice.
—Katrina Donham, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026
The Week Us, TheWeek, 2 Mar. 2026
Who to face this strange, ancient magic but the last of the Grim Lords, the sleeping necromancer Kaiataris?
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Two of us were up, and one of us was sleeping.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
As news organizations scrambled worldwide to cover the strikes that happened while most Americans were sleeping, community leaders and public officials gradually weighed in, focusing more on international concerns.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 28 Feb. 2026
You weren't allowed to sit on a bed—beds were for sleeping, not sitting, according to my mom.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The sleeping subjects received math questions and dreamed about the solutions, relaying them to the experimenter.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
But, seriously, who leaves sleeping Sam Claflin looking like that?
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
But Grewal says people who share a bed with a pet or apply lotion before sleeping should wash their flannel sheets more often.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 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
Because the house enjoys a warm light at both dawn and dusk, a cozy curtain with a two-tone texture serves as a temporary separation between the living room and sleeping area.
—Giada Storelli, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2026
Inside the guests suites feature a sleeping area, relaxed living zone, bathroom, and private outdoor terrace.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
The 4,300-square-foot aerie begins on the third floor, where the private sleeping quarters are located.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026
That said, the two-bedroom suite offers more than enough space, with separate sleeping areas and a living room that makes multi-night stays comfortable.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
Don’t overlook bedrooms, though, especially those with bunk beds where sleeping kids are in danger from the open blades of traditional ceiling fans.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
In this 200-page book, Hostetter teaches you how to make lasting repairs to everything from fabrics to boots, tents, sleeping pads, kitchenware, stoves, and more.
—Ebony Roberts, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Staff also sheltered at the resort, with sleeping quarters set up in a common space and beach chairs for makeshift beds.
—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 26 Feb. 2026
Co-sleeping Is More Common While the debate rages on in America about whether or not co-sleeping is safe, in many African countries, including Kenya and South Africa, as well as Latin America, co-sleeping—whether bed-sharing or room-sharing—is an accepted practice.
—Katrina Donham, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Soon, Melling’s Colin is obeying his lover’s every order, including by shaving himself bald and sleeping like a dog on the floor.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 2 Mar. 2026
Who to face this strange, ancient magic but the last of the Grim Lords, the sleeping necromancer Kaiataris?
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Two of us were up, and one of us was sleeping.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
As news organizations scrambled worldwide to cover the strikes that happened while most Americans were sleeping, community leaders and public officials gradually weighed in, focusing more on international concerns.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 28 Feb. 2026
You weren't allowed to sit on a bed—beds were for sleeping, not sitting, according to my mom.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The sleeping subjects received math questions and dreamed about the solutions, relaying them to the experimenter.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
But, seriously, who leaves sleeping Sam Claflin looking like that?
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
But Grewal says people who share a bed with a pet or apply lotion before sleeping should wash their flannel sheets more often.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
-
After the staff trial, several employees reported their dogs had a blast and fell fast asleep on the way home from the mental stimulation of new sights and smells.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Because thirty-two years ago, the Orange County Board of Supervisors was asleep at the switch.—
John Moorlach,
Oc Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Edgar Allan Poe’s Grave Located in Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, stop by to see Poe’s final resting place.—
Gaby Iori
March 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The fallout includes damaged reputations, irate customers and lost confidence and early final resting places at junk yards.—
Ed Sokalski,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For older children, napping may reflect individual sleep needs, efforts to make up for shorter nighttime sleep or structured rest periods in after-school programs.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The loose, wide-leg cut is chic enough to wear around the Airbnb and relaxed enough to fall asleep in, while the easy pull-on style makes the transition from all-day exploring to pre-dinner napping seamless.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard with Mosquito Bits.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Founded in the 16th century, the Royal Stables are best known for breeding the royal breed of the Andalucían horse, the best of which are showcased in regular breathtaking shows.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The most likely explanation for this mirror image pattern is mating behavior.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
His team found an association between a symbol that looks like the letter Y and the time at which the animals depicted on the object gave birth, as well as a link between an X and the time of year the animals were seen mating.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 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 9 Mar. 2026.
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