as in sleeping
being in a state of suspended consciousness
made a comparison between the inattentive nation and a slumbering giant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in slumber
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself
my peaceful slumbering was interrupted by a ring of the doorbell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in resting
to be in a state of sleep
she slumbered for hours while the train rolled on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in napping
to sleep lightly or briefly
slumbering restlessly in the tropical heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 slumbering
Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Trump revived a slumbering American electorate and drove record turnout, winning and losing; Mamdani won more votes than any modern mayor.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Along the way, the protagonist must also find a way to lift the curse on his eternally slumbering friend, who happens to be the prince.
—PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Doctor Doom seeks to steal the Chronal Chi of the slumbering dragon Shou-Lao, threatening to unravel the fate of the Heavens themselves.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
One of the men set fire to the slumbering victim’s clothes, causing a small blaze, police said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
The world's largest acidic geyser has begun erupting again in Yellowstone after slumbering for over five years, the national park said Monday.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The actress had a hard time slumbering after her week one mistakes, and now she’s expected to do a cartwheel into splits after tearing her hamstring?
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
The late-slumbering parent, meanwhile, can do remote work on their laptop at the table at night while the rest of the family sleeps comfortably.
—New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
Mountains look like slumbering dinosaurs.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Similar contamination was also the most likely explanation for the spectacular claim that spores had sprung back to life after slumbering inside a crystal for 250 million years, according to a study published in the journal Nature.
—F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The supermassive black hole sitting at the heart of our galaxy is considered to be a slumbering giant.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Trump revived a slumbering American electorate and drove record turnout, winning and losing; Mamdani won more votes than any modern mayor.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Along the way, the protagonist must also find a way to lift the curse on his eternally slumbering friend, who happens to be the prince.
—PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Doctor Doom seeks to steal the Chronal Chi of the slumbering dragon Shou-Lao, threatening to unravel the fate of the Heavens themselves.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Others showed baby Spero clasping his tiny hand around Graham's finger and slumbering with a smile on his face.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
One of the men set fire to the slumbering victim’s clothes, causing a small blaze, police said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
The world's largest acidic geyser has begun erupting again in Yellowstone after slumbering for over five years, the national park said Monday.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The actress had a hard time slumbering after her week one mistakes, and now she’s expected to do a cartwheel into splits after tearing her hamstring?
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
The late-slumbering parent, meanwhile, can do remote work on their laptop at the table at night while the rest of the family sleeps comfortably.
—New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
Mountains look like slumbering dinosaurs.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Similar contamination was also the most likely explanation for the spectacular claim that spores had sprung back to life after slumbering inside a crystal for 250 million years, according to a study published in the journal Nature.
—F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slumbering
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
-
The 7-foot forward emerged from a season-long slumber at the most opportune time, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks in a season-high 28 minutes off the bench after losing his starting spot to freshman Tae Simmons (eight points, eight rebounds).—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Ever since that fateful 1950s day in New Jersey when Steve Spielberg's father roused him from slumber to take a late-night rural drive out to watch a spectacular shooting star show, the legendary filmmaker has been fascinated with outer space and the mysteries of the cosmos.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the kitchen, Wells grabs a round of dough resting in semolina flour.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Liann and Taylor are like mirror images of one another, each with a bent knee resting on the window and the other foot on the floor.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of the babies was left napping in the nursery.—
Denise Schrier Cetta,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Calm sets in, but so does the kind of over-relaxation that leads to micro-sleep — periods of four to five seconds — which, at highway speeds around 60 mph, can careen a car the length of a football field while the driver is basically asleep at the wheel.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Have fun explaining exactly what went on while your child was asleep.—
Amanda Rock,
Parents,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ask the staff for a quieter room that ideally doesn’t face the main road; typical of the city, Admiralty Way is constantly busy, and in the rainy season heavy thunderstorms can be enough to wake one out of sleep—light sleepers will do well to pick a room that’s more internal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, eating balanced meals and limiting alcohol intake can also help stabilize energy and emotional regulation.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In his Friday testimony, Ye yawned, closed his eyes for long stretches, and at times seemed to catch his head falling forward as if dozing while seated on the witness stand.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Babies and young children attend events into the wee hours of the night, often falling asleep in someone’s arms or dozing across several chairs.—
Katrina Donham,
Parents,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Warm-Season Grasses These grasses are the opposite, growing in the spring after a dormant winter and flowering and setting seed in the fall just before winter returns.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Archaeologists finally detected the spot, hidden under grass and soil, where the shaft entrance lay dormant and waiting, perhaps for an opportune moment to surface.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slumbering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slumbering. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
