as in insomnia
the inability to obtain adequate sleep
a nagging wakefulness that seemed resistant to all of the standard home remedies
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Recent Examples of wakefulness
Everybody wants to sound like her, but no one else can quite replicate the particular sonic grammar of her writing, which unfurls like an intimate dispatch from the blurry edge of sleep and wakefulness.
—
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The company’s key asset is cleminorexton (formerly known as ORX750), which seeks to mimic a molecule in the brain, known as orexin, that helps regulate wakefulness.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
For many women, that gentle nudge toward wakefulness was once easy to sleep through.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Curating your home's color palette can promote wakefulness in some areas and relaxation in others.
—Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
In 2009, after studying a mother and a daughter who were both short sleepers, Fu published a paper about a variation in a gene called DEC2, which influences the production of orexin, a hormone associated with wakefulness.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Green tea contains caffeine, which can promote wakefulness and alertness.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
This midday slump is a natural dip in wakefulness your body experiences in the mid-afternoon.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 6 Jan. 2026
These drugs don't actually provide laser-sharp focus but may instead boost wakefulness and engagement, helping the brain stay with tasks rather than hold attention.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The company’s key asset is cleminorexton (formerly known as ORX750), which seeks to mimic a molecule in the brain, known as orexin, that helps regulate wakefulness.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
For many women, that gentle nudge toward wakefulness was once easy to sleep through.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Curating your home's color palette can promote wakefulness in some areas and relaxation in others.
—Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
In 2009, after studying a mother and a daughter who were both short sleepers, Fu published a paper about a variation in a gene called DEC2, which influences the production of orexin, a hormone associated with wakefulness.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Green tea contains caffeine, which can promote wakefulness and alertness.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
This midday slump is a natural dip in wakefulness your body experiences in the mid-afternoon.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 6 Jan. 2026
These drugs don't actually provide laser-sharp focus but may instead boost wakefulness and engagement, helping the brain stay with tasks rather than hold attention.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wakefulness
Noun
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Others may be dealing with insomnia, which could require additional interventions, Rowley says.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
2 May 2026
-
The prosecution condemned Murray's decision to administer Propofol in a home setting without proper monitoring equipment, using the toxic anesthetic as treatment for insomnia, and waiting an extended time to call 911.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hours after the terrifying rampage, a similar fatal incident took place at Koodalminikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda when an elephant that had shown signs of restlessness during a ritual procession the night before broke out of its enclosure and attacked its handlers, per News Karnataka.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
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My daughter’s restlessness in a new place the night before was taking its toll.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Norepinephrine is tied closely to alertness and cognitive focus, which helps explain why participants in cold-exposure studies often report heightened mental clarity right after immersion.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
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More evidence is needed to determine if smelling lemon water can significantly increase energy and alertness.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wakefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wakefulness. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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