wakefulness

noun

as in insomnia
the inability to obtain adequate sleep a nagging wakefulness that seemed resistant to all of the standard home remedies

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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 wakefulness Identified through foundational neuroscience research, the Sleep Onset Pattern is a distinctive brainwave signature that marks the brain's natural transition from wakefulness toward sleep. — New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2026 The science behind sleep paralysis Sharpless says that a brain stuck between dreams and wakefulness produces this phenomenon. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026 Our eyes send signals to the brain’s master clock, which coordinates our body’s systems and processes, such as wakefulness, body temperature and energy metabolism. — Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026 Researchers in China used deep-learning algorithms to analyze REM sleep, deep sleep, light sleep, total sleep duration, wakefulness after sleep onset and sleep irregularity. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Porodina is fascinated with hypnagogia, the threshold state between sleep and wakefulness. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026 Ninety-five out of 111 imaged cells lit up during slow-wave sleep and quiet, motionless wakefulness, and fell silent during running and REM sleep. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026 In reality, evening light is one of many factors that can influence the transition from wakefulness to sleep. — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 Orexins help regulate wakefulness, as well as attention, motivation and the brain’s reward system. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wakefulness
  1. insomnia
  2. restlessness
  3. alertness
Noun
  • Though many people take CBD or THC for insomnia, evidence shows that cannabis may harm sleep rather than help it.
    — Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Still, they are promoted for a range of medical uses, including insomnia, anxiety, inflammatory conditions and migraines.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of insomnia
Noun
  • Dylan had often sung of independence and created with a concomitant restlessness.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026
  • In studies, withdrawal from kratom has appeared mild on a scale that measures clinical opioid withdrawal, with symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and restlessness.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of restlessness
Noun
  • In one effort to better understand what's going on, scientists are learning how specialized cells in our eyes turn the blue wavelength part of the light spectrum into neural signals affecting mood and alertness.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Caffeine pouches have a variety of nicknames Caffeine is a stimulant that increases alertness, energy and brain activity.
    — Cheyanne Mumphrey, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of alertness

Browse Nearby Words

wakeful
wakefulness
waken
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Cite this Entry

“Wakefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wakefulness. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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