as in asleep
being in a state of suspended consciousness a roomful of sleeping preschoolers at a daycare center
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in resting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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?
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Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of sleeping
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026 The Steward family argued the case may ultimately hinge on critical physical evidence, such as campers’ sleeping cabins that were in place at the time of the disaster. —Andy Rose, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026 This sleeping mask is like a super-heavy lip balm. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026 Each Skynest includes six individual sleeping pods stacked in a bunk-style layout, allowing passengers to lie flat in a private space separate from their seats. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026 The airline needed to remove five economy seats and expand another galley to accommodate the sleeping pods. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026 Minimize Allergens in Your Bedroom Take steps to cut down on potential triggers in your sleeping space. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Apr. 2026 Moments later, Glover’s attempt to read a quote from Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell gets interrupted by Reid flaunting his Canadian flag, while astronaut Christina (Sarah Sherman) floats on by, sleeping and snoring. —William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2026 The deep pressure can mimic the feeling of side sleeping and reduce your body’s urge to roll over. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026 Premium and economy passengers will also still be required to purchase an actual seat, with these sleeping pods instead being available for an additional session fee of NZ$495 (about $280 per session). —Emma Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026 Authorities say the spree of violence ended with the shooting of a homeless man sleeping outside a Brookhaven Kroger. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 When she was featured on PEOPLE's cover, Jolie had already distinguished herself as a humanitarian who regularly went on missions to developing countries, distributing food to the hungry, even sleeping on frozen ground after a hard day's work. —Nancy Mattia, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 About an hour later in Brookhaven, another Atlanta suburb less than 15 miles northwest of the first attack, a 49-year-old homeless man who was sleeping outside a grocery store was shot multiple times, city Police Chief Brandon Gurley said. —Sarah Brumfield, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 In 2023, she was named a Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to spend a year in Korea, sleeping, eating, recreating, working and, along the way, turning her abstract memories of living there into something more concrete and direct (and sometimes overwhelming). —Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026 This has led some Americans to wait multiple days, some even sleeping overnight in their cars, to seek free free healthcare from volunteer clinics like Remote Area Medical (RAM). —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026 Inside, most of the available floorspace is taken up by a large multifunctional space that combines living and sleeping areas. —Adam Williams april 11, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
An autopsy showed that the infant died from asphyxiation secondary to a co-sleeping/overlay event with an unsafe sleeping environment. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
This Cabeau Evolution Travel Pillow is designed specifically for upright sleeping, with ergonomic neck support that keeps your head from falling forward or side to side. —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026 The Steward family argued the case may ultimately hinge on critical physical evidence, such as campers’ sleeping cabins that were in place at the time of the disaster. —Andy Rose, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026 This sleeping mask is like a super-heavy lip balm. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026 Each Skynest includes six individual sleeping pods stacked in a bunk-style layout, allowing passengers to lie flat in a private space separate from their seats. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026 The airline needed to remove five economy seats and expand another galley to accommodate the sleeping pods. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026 Minimize Allergens in Your Bedroom Take steps to cut down on potential triggers in your sleeping space. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Apr. 2026 Moments later, Glover’s attempt to read a quote from Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell gets interrupted by Reid flaunting his Canadian flag, while astronaut Christina (Sarah Sherman) floats on by, sleeping and snoring. —William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2026 The deep pressure can mimic the feeling of side sleeping and reduce your body’s urge to roll over. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
Maintain local control, protect public spaces and stop criminalizing people for sleeping outside when no safe alternative exists. —Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026 Premium and economy passengers will also still be required to purchase an actual seat, with these sleeping pods instead being available for an additional session fee of NZ$495 (about $280 per session). —Emma Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026 Authorities say the spree of violence ended with the shooting of a homeless man sleeping outside a Brookhaven Kroger. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 When she was featured on PEOPLE's cover, Jolie had already distinguished herself as a humanitarian who regularly went on missions to developing countries, distributing food to the hungry, even sleeping on frozen ground after a hard day's work. —Nancy Mattia, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 About an hour later in Brookhaven, another Atlanta suburb less than 15 miles northwest of the first attack, a 49-year-old homeless man who was sleeping outside a grocery store was shot multiple times, city Police Chief Brandon Gurley said. —Sarah Brumfield, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 In 2023, she was named a Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to spend a year in Korea, sleeping, eating, recreating, working and, along the way, turning her abstract memories of living there into something more concrete and direct (and sometimes overwhelming). —Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026 This has led some Americans to wait multiple days, some even sleeping overnight in their cars, to seek free free healthcare from volunteer clinics like Remote Area Medical (RAM). —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026 Inside, most of the available floorspace is taken up by a large multifunctional space that combines living and sleeping areas. —Adam Williams april 11, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
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After a lengthy investigation found there was no evidence to suggest that the crash was intentional, detectives determined that Gutierrez likely fell asleep at the wheel.— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
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According to five family members and an attorney who spoke with the Herald, guards working for a private contractor most recently used chemical agents in the early morning hours of April 6, when many detainees were asleep in bunk beds crammed into chain-link cages.— Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Her final resting place will be some 180 feet below the surface, but because the SS United States is so tall, the upper decks will be just 55 to 60 feet below Gulf waters, making this an accessible site for divers with various levels of wreck diving experience.— Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
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It was accompanied by flowers in the design of Minnie Mouse, all the way to her final resting place.— Christina Fan, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While occasional naps have been shown to be refreshing, frequent or prolonged daytime napping in this group has been associated with a variety of health concerns.— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
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The toddler was napping in his bedroom, and Kloss didn’t want to wake him by moving him.— Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Today, beef inflation rapidly outpaces regular food inflation due, in part, to severe drought conditions starting in 2022 that raised feed prices and discouraged farmers from breeding cattle.— Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
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Sanjar also has figured out that the most efficient time of year to deploy them is summer, when snakes are fattening up for breeding season in late fall.— Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Signs warned, caution deers mating.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
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Following the rescue, Rob Hope — manager of the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, which is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of raptors — told CTV News that fights among eagles are quite common as mating season approaches.— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s no dozing off in his sessions.— Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/sleeping. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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