somnolent

adjective

som·no·lent ˈsäm-nə-lənt

Synonyms of somnolent next

: of a kind likely to induce sleep

a somnolent sermon

: inclined to or heavy with sleep : drowsy

: sleepy sense 2

somnolent rivers

somnolently adverb

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The Sleepy History of Somnolent

Somnolent first appeared in the late 15th century in the redundant phrase "somnolent sleep." It came into English by way of Anglo-French from the Latin word somnolentus, which itself comes from somnus, meaning "sleep." Another offspring of somnus is somnambulism, a synonym of sleepwalking. Insomnia is also a member of this sleepy word family, though it might be considered the black sheep, since it means, of course, "the inability to sleep."

Examples of somnolent in a Sentence

trying to teach somnolent students on a very hot day the somnolent hum of insects in the grass

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Returning to the somnolent complacency of years past is not an option. —

Elbridge Colby, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019 Neuroscientists have long had an explanation for our somnolent twitches. —

Amanda Gefter, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2023 Democrats are walking around in some state of somnolent indifference about Joe Biden. —

Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 26 June 2023 At Edgewood Tahoe, guest-room TVs show scenic views of Lake Tahoe behind a somnolent custom soundtrack by Sleepy Podcast host Otis Gray reading poetry by Robert Frost. —

Jon Marcus, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for somnolent