yawning 1 of 2

yawning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of yawn

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 yawning
Adjective
Yet the shooting also divided the American public in ways that many found disturbing, including a yawning lack of empathy for the victim and even cheering for the shooter. Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024 In Palm Beach County, Ian's yawning reach spun up four tornadoes. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2023 Wet Leg make fun of something that Harry Styles couldn’t quite capture in his cover of their song on BBC Radio 1: the yawning banality of male attention. Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2022 Dellandrea still impresses: Stars forward Ty Dellandrea picked up his third assist of the season on Tuesday, working his way to a puck and finding Wyatt Johnston for a yawning cage in the second period. Dallas News, 25 Oct. 2022 But McNamara obtained the transcripts and discovered yawning contradictions. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2022 Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York may be at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, but a more yawning gap between figures in the party has existed before. John Dickerson, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2022 The tunnels, some a yawning 33 feet in diameter and running up to 300 feet below city streets, stretch 109 miles and collectively hold 2.3 billion gallons of water. New York Times, 17 May 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yawning
Adjective
  • James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.
    Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Adjective
  • Lawyers at Walsh Gallegos coordinated two releases of emails and other documents on behalf of the school board, but CNN reported how gaping holes remained, surprising and angering board members.
    Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
  • That left a gaping July Fourth hole on the racing schedule, which Joliet will now fill, at least in 2026.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • By the time Cali finished her drink, Ronny was snoring.
    Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
  • While crawfish frogs might be notorious for their rap sheets full of B&Es, they are also said to have a distinct sound when calling, almost like the sound of someone snoring.
    Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Beyond this, the risks to personal and business privacy posed by the unpredictable way chatbots store and handle our data are challenges that wider society will need to address.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Chicblooms Wide-Calf Slouchy Suede Block-Heel Boots Available in 10 colors, these suede boots come in sizes 6–11 with extra wide calves for a comfortable fit.
    Emily Weaver, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The American Kennel Club says that digging is as natural to dogs as barking or sniffing.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • In Season 1, someone taps out after the first night because a bear was sniffing around his camp.
    Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The fears of my imagination, the possibility of losing a child due to one inattentive moment, all combined to leave me gasping for breath.
    Adam Verner September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Their difficult, high-flying act left the judges and live audience gasping.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Howard’s best comedies have a light, almost effortless touch, but this one is panting and gasping essentially from the opening frames.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Officers responding to the scene found the dog panting heavily, with excessive drool coating the back seat.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • From accidental black holes to worries that chemical experiments might suddenly freeze all Earth’s oceans, this is the story of concerns scientists are on the brink of discovering exotic, deadly new forms of matter or life that might quickly spread, snuffing us out.
    Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Sneaking up and snuffing an enemy requires engaging in CQC (close quarters combat), which lets players grab a bad guy to choke, interrogate, or outright body slam.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Yawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yawning. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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