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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Recent Examples of wakefulness
Curating your home's color palette can promote wakefulness in some areas and relaxation in others.
—
Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
In 2009, after studying a mother and a daughter who were both short sleepers, Fu published a paper about a variation in a gene called DEC2, which influences the production of orexin, a hormone associated with wakefulness.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Green tea contains caffeine, which can promote wakefulness and alertness.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
This midday slump is a natural dip in wakefulness your body experiences in the mid-afternoon.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 6 Jan. 2026
These drugs don't actually provide laser-sharp focus but may instead boost wakefulness and engagement, helping the brain stay with tasks rather than hold attention.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
More to the point, the old idea that serotonin is a simple, sleep-promoting signal in the brain is fully out of fashion; later research found that serotonin may also be a potent source of wakefulness, and that its function in the sleep-wake cycle is both complicated and diverse.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2025
For example, one participant reported ants crawling on her back even as the EEG documented the fast and frequent brain waves of wakefulness.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
On average, kids were awake for 38 minutes per night, while parents estimated fewer than five minutes of wakefulness.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
In 2009, after studying a mother and a daughter who were both short sleepers, Fu published a paper about a variation in a gene called DEC2, which influences the production of orexin, a hormone associated with wakefulness.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Green tea contains caffeine, which can promote wakefulness and alertness.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
This midday slump is a natural dip in wakefulness your body experiences in the mid-afternoon.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 6 Jan. 2026
These drugs don't actually provide laser-sharp focus but may instead boost wakefulness and engagement, helping the brain stay with tasks rather than hold attention.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
More to the point, the old idea that serotonin is a simple, sleep-promoting signal in the brain is fully out of fashion; later research found that serotonin may also be a potent source of wakefulness, and that its function in the sleep-wake cycle is both complicated and diverse.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2025
For example, one participant reported ants crawling on her back even as the EEG documented the fast and frequent brain waves of wakefulness.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
On average, kids were awake for 38 minutes per night, while parents estimated fewer than five minutes of wakefulness.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wakefulness
Noun
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Those results echoed the findings of a 2021 review of three studies on 151 older adults with insomnia.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Magnesium supplements may improve sleep quality and insomnia symptoms, especially in people with low magnesium levels.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kratom can lead to addiction, and some signs of withdrawal could include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle/joint aches, restlessness, runny nose, excessive yawning, and hot or cold flashes.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Keeping a person engaged and maintaining consistent routines can also reduce restlessness.—
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Key Takeaways Mixing caffeine with alcohol may increase alertness, but your blood alcohol level and impairment stay the same.—
Karen Berger,
Verywell Health,
9 Mar. 2026
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Chuck Reger, franchise business coach at Five Star Painting, says bright red is highly stimulating and naturally increases alertness.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wakefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wakefulness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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