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
Duckett was the only officer on duty in the sleepy town of Mascotte in South Lake County on the night of May 11, 1987.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Given the choice of pulling out of half of their in-game buys during the sleepier quarters, marketers may choose to exercise those options if a recession is in full, sickly bloom.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The neighborhood/area Located in the sleepy St James parish in the hills, the lively west coast towns of the island are a mere 10-minute drive, boasting beaches, bars, restaurants, shops, and grocery stores.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Flower Beds, Perennials, and Ornamentals Herbaceous perennials are likely still pretty sleepy, but fat buds, flowers, and even the start of leaves unfurling are all happening on woodier ornamentals.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Given the choice of pulling out of half of their in-game buys during the sleepier quarters, marketers may choose to exercise those options if a recession is in full, sickly bloom.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The neighborhood/area Located in the sleepy St James parish in the hills, the lively west coast towns of the island are a mere 10-minute drive, boasting beaches, bars, restaurants, shops, and grocery stores.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Flower Beds, Perennials, and Ornamentals Herbaceous perennials are likely still pretty sleepy, but fat buds, flowers, and even the start of leaves unfurling are all happening on woodier ornamentals.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepy
Adjective
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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
Adjective
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The first concert starts with Ciani’s signature ocean sounds before Cunningham’s chords—dull, glassy—add an atonal sheen.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
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These changes can leave your skin feeling dry, dull, and more sensitive than before.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It’s partitioned by a long, tiled bar along the left wall, situated behind the hearth and its surrounding oval counter and framed, aesthetically, by double Moroccan doors painted in hypnotic geometries.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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The gunmetal details add an edgy contrast without dimming the base's hypnotic shine.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Or maybe this was a slow roll, meant to culminate with the two All-Stars crescendoing into the playoff push.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Feed Forever Goldy® Arborvitae annually in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Spanning both Coachella weekends, the four poolside shows blend electronic music with the venue's wave pool, lazy river and open-air amphitheater — creating a unique daytime oasis of surf, sound and hospitality.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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Perez hit the ball off the end of the bat, a lazy fly to center field.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Getting a full eight hours of sleep and still feeling drowsy?—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
22 Mar. 2026
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Legal Consequences of Drowsy Driving While drowsy or fatigued driving may not lead to criminal charges as serious as DUI or DWI, a person who is accused of driving unsafely may still face penalties.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Videos circulating on social media showed driverless cars sitting motionless in active roadways, some blocking lanes and intersections.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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The rest of his teammates, lined up near the halfway line, either fell to the floor or stood motionless as the home crowd erupted at the same time as the Italian players’ worlds came crashing down around them.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepy. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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