1
as in awaking
to cause to stop sleeping
my banging around in the kitchen woke my wife
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wakening
to cease to be asleep
I woke with a start when the door slammed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in alerting
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk
a public service announcement designed to wake people to the dangers of aggressive driving
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in awakening
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waking
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2020
Since becoming director of Dallas Animal Services in October 2017, Ed Jamison has spent every waking moment trying to get potential adopters and fosters into the shelter.
—Sharon Grigsby, Dallas News, 6 Apr. 2020
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
There are signs the trio’s lumber might be waking from its collective slumber.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waking
Verb
When nightmare scenarios move to the waking world, stark fictions and knotty personal histories offer guidance less in the factual specifics than in their emotional terrain.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2020
Since becoming director of Dallas Animal Services in October 2017, Ed Jamison has spent every waking moment trying to get potential adopters and fosters into the shelter.
—Sharon Grigsby, Dallas News, 6 Apr. 2020
Adjective
Even modest circadian misalignment, characterized by sleeping and waking at hours that are out of sync with your body's clock, has been shown in Scientific Reports to impair sustained attention and reduce the ability to learn and assimilate new information.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
There are signs the trio’s lumber might be waking from its collective slumber.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waking
Verb
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Tirso Ornelas’ seventh-inning grand slam triggered a late-game awaking as Triple-A El Paso beat host Sugar Land 13-2 on Wednesday.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Elizabeth feels her senses awakening again.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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The tense drama follows a successful scientist who develops a revolutionary recreational drug that works only on women, awakening a powerful sense of ecstasy and pleasure even when nothing in their circumstances has changed.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The agency also issued a letter alerting physicians nationwide.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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Word of Starbucks cafe closures is rippling across Southern California, with social media posts and letters in café doorways alerting customers that their coffee stop is soon to be no more.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In addition to a silent auction, the gala staged a rousing musical salute to Jam & Lewis — under the direction of Adam Blackstone — which featured performances by Durand Bernarr, Eric Bellinger, Tina Campbell, Johnny Gill and Estelle.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
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Just think of the gridiron characters who've hit the big screen over the years, giving us awesome cinematic moments in everything from screwball comedies to rousing biopics.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nessel spoke about the work of her office’s Hate Crimes Unit, warning that Michigan reported about 620 hate crimes in 2024 — more than 50 incidents a month.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Carney won an election in April with a strident message for Canadians, warning that theirrelationship with America would change dramatically in the coming years.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Adding oils or a warm soak can increase sensitivity and make the experience both soothing and arousing.—
Essence,
Essence,
11 Sep. 2025
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Squeezing lube out of a bottle until the cold goop squirts out isn't the most arousing act.—
Brenda Stolyar,
WIRED,
4 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Of course—even if students read less, and do less of their own writing, and skip class more often, and are graded on elevator pitches given to computers—college could remain a stimulating and fun experience.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
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In it, Sunset has picked 10 tasting rooms (or appellations with good tasting options), from classic vineyards to producers of zero-proof beverages, that should delight everyone with their delectable offerings, innovative techniques and visually stimulating atmospheres.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waking. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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