1
as in sleeping
desiring or needing sleep
the sleepy children were carried up to bed
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2
as in dull
slow to move or act
a sleepy little town on the coast
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3
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge
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4
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation
a sleepy party that was mostly attended by the same boring people I work with
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleepy
This season, Juan moves from Colombia to join his fiancée Jessica, their baby son and soon-to-be stepsons in a sleepy town in Wyoming.
—
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 Jan. 2025
Larry Guest, a longtime Orlando Sentinel sports columnist who uniquely chronicled the city’s rise from sleepy sports town to major-league city, died Saturday.
—David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025
The crew set up shop at a Holiday Inn Express in Litchfield, Illinois, a sleepy town in the farm country south of Springfield.
—Brendan I. Koerner, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025
Children with the virus may be fussy, sleepy throughout the day and cry without tears.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sleepy 
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 Jan. 2025
Larry Guest, a longtime Orlando Sentinel sports columnist who uniquely chronicled the city’s rise from sleepy sports town to major-league city, died Saturday.
—David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025
The crew set up shop at a Holiday Inn Express in Litchfield, Illinois, a sleepy town in the farm country south of Springfield.
—Brendan I. Koerner, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025
Children with the virus may be fussy, sleepy throughout the day and cry without tears.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sleepy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepy
Adjective
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On the thirteenth-century tomb of Eleanor of Aquitaine, she is shown wide awake and reading, while her dull and kingly husband sleeps for all eternity.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
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If your hair is dull and prone to breakage, this serum is packed with gluco-peptides and wheat protein to help restore elasticity and strengthening the cuticle.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Their fusion of folk instrumentation and electronic production makes for a hypnotic, genre-blurring experience.—
Rob Reed,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
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Svengali sets his sights on Trilby O’Farrell (Marian Marsh), an artist’s model, and the sinister teacher’s pattern of manipulation and ruin seems to be repeating itself yet again—but Trilby’s old lover, Billee (Bramwell Fletcher), seeks to discover the truth about Svengali’s hypnotic influence.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Israel Defense Forces have been slow to withdraw from their position in the southern part of Lebanon despite a Nov. 27 ceasefire deal that gave the Lebanese Army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon exclusive jurisdiction over the region.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
18 Jan. 2025
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Randle has often been slow to close out on 3-point shooters and inattentive off the ball.—
Jon Krawczynski,
The Athletic,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Telogen Stage The telogen stage of the hair cycle is a resting phase, during which the hair doesn't grow, and the follicle is dormant.1 About 10% to 15% of the hairs on your body are in this resting phase at any one time, which typically lasts for a few months.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
13 Jan. 2025
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Green Bay could finish as high as sixth in the NFC if the resting Rams lose to the 49ers, potentially setting up a first-round matchup against the division-rival Lions.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2024
Adjective
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Harrah's Resort Southern California boasts an impressive lazy river — and an active role in San Diego's Pride celebrations.—
Jared Ranahan,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Jan. 2025
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Boardwalks lead past breezy picnic pavilions and rows of lazy loungers and Bahamian blue and yellow-colored umbrellas to the pink sands of Eleuthera.—
Mark Gauert,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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State patrol data shows drowsy lane-violation crashes jumped another 43.5% between 2023 and 2024.—
Lauren Penington,
The Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2025
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Drivers are also advised to avoid drowsy driving, as operating a vehicle with insufficient sleep can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In the wake of Tuesday night’s home humiliation at the hands of the lottery-lusting Portland Trail Blazers, before the current team sanction, coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about the third consecutive largely lethargic performance from Butler.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2025
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Medical records showed that in the days after the injury, Ben was lethargic and had a persistent fever.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Washington’s running game, which had been somnolent for a month, came back to life Saturday, gaining 182 yards against the Lions.—
David Aldridge,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
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In it, bands play a quieter part of the song, or start softly, setting a somnolent mood before blowing it apart with a sudden shift in volume and dynamics, with little more warning than some transitional guitar feedback.—
Aaron Gilbreath,
SPIN,
31 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near sleepy
Cite this Entry
“Sleepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepy. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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