1
as in sleeping
desiring or needing sleep
the sleepy children were carried up to bed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Ultimately, what was once a sleepy and steady sector of the US economy is starting to become much more dynamic.
—
Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
The queen, who is currently competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, is near-singlehandedly turning the All Stars franchise from a sleepy series to a must-watch by playing the game strategically and having fun doing it.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 May 2025
At least nine of the 25 arrested have landed in immigration detention — scattered across the country from a crowded lockup in Miami to a facility in a sleepy Texas railway town to a confinement in a Pacific Northwest port city overlooked by Mount Rainier.
—Hannah Critchfield, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
For decades, the late Intel co-founder Gordon Moore and his wife, Betty, enjoyed life at a secluded property in the sleepy Northern California town of Woodside.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
The queen, who is currently competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, is near-singlehandedly turning the All Stars franchise from a sleepy series to a must-watch by playing the game strategically and having fun doing it.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 May 2025
At least nine of the 25 arrested have landed in immigration detention — scattered across the country from a crowded lockup in Miami to a facility in a sleepy Texas railway town to a confinement in a Pacific Northwest port city overlooked by Mount Rainier.
—Hannah Critchfield, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
For decades, the late Intel co-founder Gordon Moore and his wife, Betty, enjoyed life at a secluded property in the sleepy Northern California town of Woodside.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleepy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleepy
Adjective
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There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
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Age Defense Retinol Complex 0.5 is no exception, which shines with its abilities to reduce the look of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and overall dull skin.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Along with guitarist Mike Campbell and Petty himself, Tench was with the Heartbreakers from their formation in 1976 all the way to their final show in 2017, toggling between the piano and Hammond organ as Petty’s kick-ass spellcaster who flew through songs like a hypnotic spiral.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
6 June 2025
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Meanwhile, every spring in Baja, Mexico, mobula rays gather by the thousands, swirling in a hypnotic vortex.—
Rona Berg,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Strain into a highball glass, while simultaneously adding the club soda together in one slow stream to achieve the fluffy, towering fizz.—
Jillian Dara,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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And while the Canadian industry made early gains to close a gender gap in the film and TV industry, making strides in advancing and promoting talent from underrepresented Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities has been slower and more incremental.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 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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Summer in New Jersey means long, lazy days at its famous beaches.—
Rachel Chang,
AFAR Media,
2 June 2025
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Dresses should feel effortless but not lazy, and easy to wear all day.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Safety upgrades include a lane-centering system, a surround-view camera system, rear automatic braking, forward collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, lane departure warning and a drowsy driver monitor.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
18 May 2025
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Studies have shown that teens who experience a lack of sleep could suffer negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy driving incidents, anxiety, depression, and many more.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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The Nuggets, who looked so energized as a unit in Tuesday night’s Game 5 win, looked lethargic and exhausted in large stretches of Game 6.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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The Jayhawks were again lethargic vs. the Wildcats.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Alan Fox’s script is rife with clunkers (the somnolent Ilfenesh Hadera, as David’s wife Pam, explains with haunting detail which items of decor on the dining table can be moved where by the police), and the intrusive score is the equivalent of garish wall-to-wall carpeting.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
20 May 2025
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While there are a half-dozen or so worthy books on the list, most of them are somnolent doctoral theses that probably should not have been acquired in the first place.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleepy. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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