1
as in sleepy
desiring or needing sleep
trying to teach somnolent students on a very hot day
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
the somnolent hum of insects in the grass
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of somnolent
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
The movie is almost entirely a flashback, narrated from the perspective of one of its main characters, Saul Manfred (Barney Phillips), a doctor from the North who’s a recent arrival in the cozy but somnolent seaside town of Braddock, North Carolina, where the action is set.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022
The two men complement each other perfectly: Herzog, who provides the film’s sinuously somnolent voice-over narration in his best Bavarian tones, has a mystic-rhapsodic temperament, while Oppenheimer, who, unlike Herzog, is often seen on camera, is more like a hard science David Attenborough type.
—The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for somnolent
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
The movie is almost entirely a flashback, narrated from the perspective of one of its main characters, Saul Manfred (Barney Phillips), a doctor from the North who’s a recent arrival in the cozy but somnolent seaside town of Braddock, North Carolina, where the action is set.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022
The two men complement each other perfectly: Herzog, who provides the film’s sinuously somnolent voice-over narration in his best Bavarian tones, has a mystic-rhapsodic temperament, while Oppenheimer, who, unlike Herzog, is often seen on camera, is more like a hard science David Attenborough type.
—The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for somnolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for somnolent
Adjective
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The historic start The Wild had been sleepy starters recently, giving up the first goal in each of their last six games.—
Joe Smith,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
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Today the old town seems to have retreated into a kind of sleepy Norman Rockwell innocence: the distant drone of a lawn mower, the call of kids playing catch, the smoky aromas of a barbecue.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, a caravan of singers, musician and actors — some associated with her, some not necessarily — sang and read Smith’s words, an ongoing testament to the still hypnotic grip of her songs and poems.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2025
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In keeping with the hypnotic, spirited vibe of all Half Magic goodies (the brand is the brainchild of Euphoria head makeup artist Donni Davy, so duh), the Magic Flik Eyeliner breaks the mold with a unique, flexible paddle tip.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
26 Mar. 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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The perpetually drowsy dwarf is voiced by Andy Grotelueschen, who has appeared in Elementary, The Good Cop, The Gilded Age, and A Complete Unknown, among other series and films.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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More than three-fourths of the drowsy driving events to which it has been alerted by dash cams since October were detected by behaviors other than yawning alone.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
26 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Somnolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/somnolent. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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