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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 My partner Tyler, seen here as a sleepy guy, loves Halloween and always switches up his costume. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026 Who brought these moving, 35 words by Danez Smith to me on a sleepy morning commute? — James Folta, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026 So Chaplin built an entire feature around that sleepy little boy, thus launching the career of the kid generally agreed to be Hollywood’s very first bona fide child star. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026 Once upon a time, the Kansas Senate race was expected to be a sleepy affair, one where Senator Roger Marshall, a first-term Republican, would cruise to re-election. — New York Times, 21 Oct. 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
  • Like scoops of an ocean unmarred by humans, quarts of seaweed soup sit next to other flavors like spicy beef and pine nut and soybean, a shade of creamy beige so calming, one glance is enough to effectively absolve the color of its dull reputation.
    — Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • If your skin's looking a little dull or feeling rough, the best alpha hydroxy acid products might be exactly what your routine is missing.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Case in point, in that early-’10s resurgence, others returned to the source and cooked up a suite of stupefyingly hypnotic remixes.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Watch his hypnotic Instagram Reels, and you’ll be transfixed by his meticulous brushwork, application of delicate gold leaf, and detailed flourishes.
    — Emma Jacobson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of hypnotic
Adjective
  • The course of Alzheimer’s disease is slightly slower than that of Lewy body dementia, according to Vossel.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The team found that slower charging helped create more uniform, inorganic-rich protective layers, which are important for maintaining stable battery performance.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 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
  • Not because trainers are lazy, but because output feels controllable.
    — Ben Plomion, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • While older generations may interpret limited eye contact, a flat expression or a pause before responding as rude, lazy or unprofessional, that might not be a younger person’s intent at all, Leahy said.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 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
  • There was a serious and heartbreaking scene at Ford Field on Sunday when linebacker Jack Campbell was left motionless following a violent collision on a tackle, leading to him being removed on an immobilized cart.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • In comments shared on social media, many claimed her face appeared frozen and motionless, her expressions nonexistent.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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