Synonyms of insomnianext
: prolonged and usually abnormal inability to get enough sleep especially due to trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
chronic insomnia
Insomnia is a patient-reported problem characterized by difficulty falling asleep or difficulty maintaining sleep; ie, frequent awakenings, difficulty returning to sleep after awakenings, or awakening too early with inability to return to sleep.Daniel J. Buysse

Examples of insomnia in a Sentence

has suffered from insomnia virtually his entire life
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Drinking too much coffee can cause side effects like insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, or stomach pain, Jirapinyo says. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 2 July 2026 For people experiencing insomnia and other sleep issues, other supplements may also help improve rest. Kirstyn Hill, Health, 1 July 2026 But for many others, sleep problems run much deeper as millions of people live with sleep disorders such as insomnia, restless legs syndrome, circadian rhythm disorders or sleep apnea. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026 Those included headaches, insomnia, light and noise sensitivity, brain fog, anxiety, confusion, joint pain, disordered eating, nausea and weight loss and gain. Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for insomnia

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from insomnis sleepless, from in- + somnus sleep — more at somnolent

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of insomnia was in 1739

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insomnia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insomnia. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

: prolonged inability to sleep

Medical Definition

: prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep especially due to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

called also agrypnia

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