1
as in sleeping
desiring or needing sleep
the sleepy children were carried up to bed
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2
as in dull
slow to move or act
a sleepy little town on the coast
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3
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleepy
For months, New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race was considered sleepy political theater—the kind expected to reaffirm the state’s blue credentials before national operatives move on.
—
Nik Popli, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The town now feels sleepy, surrounded by corn and rice fields.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
The facility, located in the sleepy village of Corgemont, Switzerland—about an hour’s drive from Bern—doesn’t immediately strike you as the sort of place that would determine world records.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2025
Better check behind every bush and tree, because this movie will convince you every sleepy suburb is a slaughterhouse in the making.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Nik Popli, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The town now feels sleepy, surrounded by corn and rice fields.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
The facility, located in the sleepy village of Corgemont, Switzerland—about an hour’s drive from Bern—doesn’t immediately strike you as the sort of place that would determine world records.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2025
Better check behind every bush and tree, because this movie will convince you every sleepy suburb is a slaughterhouse in the making.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepy
Adjective
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Instead, watching Charles attempt to insert himself into the Garfield Administration by forging papers and sneaking into buildings feels repetitive and a bit dull.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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Their life in Watertown had been ordinary, maybe even dull sometimes.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Balle’s prose—repetitive, hypnotic, and as balanced as a small plane—sustains an atmosphere of illuminated ordinariness.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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While romance is built into the Gothic nature of the tale, the erotic appeal of Frankenstein is not as obvious as that of Dracula, with his hypnotic stare and eternal devotion.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
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When visiting the exhibit, plan on taking your time to make the most of it, or what the American Federation of Arts calls slow looking.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Taking minoxidil orally can support the hair follicle cycle and trigger anagen (the resting phase) prematurely.—
Jessie Quinn,
Flow Space,
23 Sep. 2025
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During the resting phase, hair stops growing and will shed, or fall out.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Saturday morning appeared more like a lazy weekday morning at SMF — plenty of curbside pickup spaces and ticketing agents offering extra attention — than the frontline of a nationwide transportation crunch.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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It’s made with a soft, cozy knit, but the sleek silhouette keeps it from veering into lazy-day territory.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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There’s nothing quite as soothing as the drowsy calmness that washes over you when your partner runs their hands through your hair.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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The DeWine administration cited driver safety as a catalyst for the project: officials noted that truck drivers who can't find a parking spot are known to drive drowsy or pull over to sleep in unsafe areas.—
Annie Goldman,
The Enquirer,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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Outfitted with a messy wig and white clothes, the robot remains motionless before suddenly collapsing to all fours and crawling, evoking scenes straight out of The Ring or The Exorcist.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
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Tanev immediately dropped to the ice and was motionless for a bit before medical personnel quickly wheeled out a stretcher.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Newcastle instantly responded, with West Ham lethargic, noting that their opponent’s midfield trio of Paqueta, Potts, and Mateus Fernandes had been drawn upfield.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Some dogs may also destroy items, try to escape, or seem sad and lethargic when left alone.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepy. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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