sleeping 1 of 3

sleeping

2 of 3

noun

sleeping

3 of 3

verb

present participle of sleep
1
as in napping
to be in a state of sleep the baby slept for the entire length of the car trip found the night watchman sleeping at his post

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in breeding
to engage in sexual intercourse if I don't read the tabloids, how will I know who is sleeping with whom this week?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
  • Chronic insomnia — an inability to fall or stay asleep or waking up much earlier than desired — could lead to serious issues, including heart attacks and stroke.
    Andrew Torgan, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Fernandez-Mendoza: Our team was the first to show that those complaining about insomnia – difficulty falling or staying asleep – were more likely to have high blood pressure and be at risk for heart disease.
    Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • With this new year, consider planning some fresh ways to cater to your creativity—and lean in to the importance of resting.
    Essence, Essence, 7 Jan. 2025
  • But the infection typically does improve with resting, drinking fluids and over-the-counter medication.
    Christina Shaw, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The post also shows Sophia napping on their couch surrounded by Santa hats, and a variety of homemade gifts made for one another.
    Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The discovery of this titanic napping black hole is a breakthrough for this theory.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • While her blood was found inside the vehicle, there was no other trace of her and her bank accounts remained dormant.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • For a true super bloom to occur, a high proportion of seeds that have remained dormant and built up in soil over several years must bloom at once.
    Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sleeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleeping. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sleeping

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!