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
Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
Bedroom furniture should suit your personality as much as your sleeping habits.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 13 Mar. 2026
Delivering air flow of 350 L/min, the Pico Pump can inflate a sleeping pad in just 30 seconds, an air bed in 150 seconds, and an 80-inch (203 cm) boat in 330 seconds.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Choose Two Coverings Confirm your and your partner’s sleeping preferences, then buy the right comforter, duvet, or blanket (even if that means different weights or fabrics).
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2026
Cover yourself with thick protective coverings, such as a mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, or other protective coverings.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2026
Temperature can also impact the circadian rhythm, so try to keep your sleeping area cool.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Mar. 2026
With more than 60,000 positive reviews, the Cool Gel Ultimate 14 Inch Mattress is designed to create a plush, comfortable sleeping surface with advanced cooling technology and exceptional support in Twin to California King.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Witnesses reported readjusting his sleeping position, checking his pulse and breathing, and looking up symptoms of alcohol poisoning throughout the night, the documents said.
—CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Staff Author, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
An analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine indicated that sleeping for less than seven hours a night increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression.
—Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
During a stay at the serene Catskills hotel The Henson, contributor Liz Provencher woke up to ultimate comfort after sleeping on this hybrid bed.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
These include dimming the lights and minimizing the use of electronics before bed, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, maintaining a sleeping environment that's cool, dark, and quiet.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 8 Mar. 2026
Some cities have also moved to enable police to fine or arrest people sleeping on the streets.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Pictures show displaced families sleeping rough and residential buildings in ruins.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
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
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
In her closet were seven Ungaros, three Rykiels, a Kamali bathing suit and a Kamali sleeping-bag coat, five Kenzo dresses, two pieces from the Ballets Russes collection of Saint Laurent—all of which were trades or payments in kind, none of them mothballed, but instead worn ostentatiously and often.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
Bedroom furniture should suit your personality as much as your sleeping habits.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 13 Mar. 2026
Delivering air flow of 350 L/min, the Pico Pump can inflate a sleeping pad in just 30 seconds, an air bed in 150 seconds, and an 80-inch (203 cm) boat in 330 seconds.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Choose Two Coverings Confirm your and your partner’s sleeping preferences, then buy the right comforter, duvet, or blanket (even if that means different weights or fabrics).
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2026
Cover yourself with thick protective coverings, such as a mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, or other protective coverings.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2026
Temperature can also impact the circadian rhythm, so try to keep your sleeping area cool.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Mar. 2026
With more than 60,000 positive reviews, the Cool Gel Ultimate 14 Inch Mattress is designed to create a plush, comfortable sleeping surface with advanced cooling technology and exceptional support in Twin to California King.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Witnesses reported readjusting his sleeping position, checking his pulse and breathing, and looking up symptoms of alcohol poisoning throughout the night, the documents said.
—CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Some common behaviors to look out for include sleep changes, like getting very little sleep, or alternatively sleeping or hibernating more than usual, says Guilbault.
—Staff Author, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
An analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine indicated that sleeping for less than seven hours a night increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression.
—Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
During a stay at the serene Catskills hotel The Henson, contributor Liz Provencher woke up to ultimate comfort after sleeping on this hybrid bed.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
These include dimming the lights and minimizing the use of electronics before bed, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, maintaining a sleeping environment that's cool, dark, and quiet.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 8 Mar. 2026
Some cities have also moved to enable police to fine or arrest people sleeping on the streets.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Pictures show displaced families sleeping rough and residential buildings in ruins.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
-
While the main areas can be dramatic and flashy with the disco balls, string lights, and bold colors, the rooms are light and serene—the perfect places to unwind and fall blissfully asleep.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Since many hotels usually have a couple pillows of different firmness levels on a bed, falling and staying asleep won’t be a fever dream no matter your sleeping position.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
By joining and planning already underway for a new public cemetery in the canyon, a final resting place for local veterans is gaining ground.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Their remains are taken to the Dover Air Force Base mortuary for identification by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and preparation for their final resting place.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
7 Mar. 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
-
At some colonies in Argentina, 97% of pups died, while on South Georgia Island, researchers reported a 47% decline in breeding females between 2022 and 2024.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Sprinkle Mosquito Bits granules into the water that collects in the center of the leafy rosette to prevent Aedes mosquitoes from breeding there.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 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 17 Mar. 2026.
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