sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē How to pronounce sleepy (audio)
Definition of sleepynext
1
as in sleeping
desiring or needing sleep the sleepy children were carried up to bed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dull
slow to move or act a sleepy little town on the coast

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation a sleepy party that was mostly attended by the same boring people I work with

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sleepy The sleepy new Strokes album Reality Awaits landed Friday, less than a week before the 25th anniversary of the band’s momentous 2001 debut, Is This It. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 28 July 2026 Our first stop was Lefkes, a cute village that must be absolutely packed in the summer, but was blissfully sleepy in spring. — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026 Located about 90 minutes from Lisbon, Melides is known for its empty beaches, rural land, vineyards and sleepy pace. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 24 July 2026 Every other year, the sleepy Hampshire town of Farnborough explodes in cosmopolitan confusion as exhibitors, delegates, industrial giants, politicians, media, and visitors estimated at 120,000 descend over a five-day period. — David Szondy july 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepy
  1. sleeping
  2. dull
  3. hypnotic
  4. slow
  5. resting
  6. lazy
  7. drowsy
  8. motionless
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
Definition of sleeping
Adjective
  • Moreover, in a study of 29 users of Melanotan II published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, some users reported their skin turning a dull gray color.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Still, her stellar performance can’t elevate the series beyond its dull monotony.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Jim James has released a new single from his first solo LP in eight years, Wowed Out, sharing its hypnotic title track alongside a new music video.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
  • Indeed, by then, the hypnotic spell had been cast across all of Europe, including on those liberated from the drab tyrannies of actually existing socialism.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of hypnotic
Adjective
  • Researchers used the device to process time-series data, including signals that contained both rapid and slow changes.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026
  • However, there is another, slower and more insidious evacuation taking place, and that is the steady migration from rural areas all around the world to burgeoning cities, which now host more than half the world’s population.
    — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • That’s because when the body experiences physical stress, including losing weight quickly, more hairs can shift into a resting phase and fall out a few months later — typically two to three months after the event, Rossi explains.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 17 Feb. 2026
  • This is a condition where, due to stress or hormonal changes, the body puts the hair follicles into a resting phase.
    — Essence, Essence, 19 Dec. 2025
Definition of resting
Adjective
  • Traditional lazy Susans only work on round tables -- enter The Lazy Susan Revolution, a patented system designed specifically for long, rectangular and oval tables, bringing every dish within reach of every guest.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Most of my procrastination stems from being too lazy to expertly fold my clothes properly in my suitcase to avoid wrinkles.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of lazy
Adjective
  • Allergy drugs can ease those symptoms and make people drowsy, potentially offering relief from insomnia.
    — Kara Smythe, EverydayHealth.com, 15 May 2026
  • Fleets that deployed the company's AI dash cams, which detect drowsy or distracted driving, saw a 73% reduction in accidents after 30 months, according to company data from more than 2,600 customers.
    — TIME Contributors, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of drowsy
Adjective
  • Reading someone’s brain during a real conversation is hard because the conventional method requires lying motionless inside an MRI scanner.
    — Yigit Topoglu, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The detective noted that Ramirez then appeared to get pulled under the vehicle, and then was lying motionless.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
Definition of motionless

Browse Nearby Words

sleepwear
sleepy
sleigh bed
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Cite this Entry

“Sleepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepy. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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