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somnolent

adjective

ˈsäm-nə-lənt How to pronounce somnolent (audio)
Definition of somnolentnext
1
as in sleepy
desiring or needing sleep trying to teach somnolent students on a very hot day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep the somnolent hum of insects in the grass

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 somnolent One is the practice of taking very short breaks, or microbreaks, during the workday rather than — or even in addition to — a long, somnolent lunch break. — David Faris, TheWeek, 1 Jan. 2026 Cliché upon cliché, The Magic of Belle Isle rests heavy on the considerable charm of its actors and the utterly somnolent predictability of the storytelling. — Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025 While there are a half-dozen or so worthy books on the list, most of them are somnolent doctoral theses that probably should not have been acquired in the first place. — George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2025 Washington’s running game, which had been somnolent for a month, came back to life Saturday, gaining 182 yards against the Lions. — David Aldridge, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for somnolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somnolent
  1. sleepy
  2. hypnotic
  3. sleeping
  4. resting
  5. drowsy
Adjective
  • Illustration by Patricia Bolaños In sleepy South Slope, a local son in search of a beer bar walked past a familiar, long-shuttered laundromat.
    — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Carlotta and Dedo have to do everything in their power to prove her innocence and avoid losing her again, with their investigation taking them to the heart of their sleepy suburban town, Sundersheim.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • Jalet is known for his hypnotic choreographic style, and has gain recognition in the music world for his work with Thom Yorke on his short film Anima.
    — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Peaks and valleys ranging from a light sandy color to a deep blueish-gray create an almost hypnotic landscape.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of hypnotic
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
  • 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
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

somnolence
somnolent
son
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Cite this Entry

“Somnolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somnolent. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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