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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleeping
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Hales says that the majority of sleepers prefer a medium to medium-firm mattress, but your sleeping position is what tips the scale.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
An elevator opens to the fifth floor, where all the sleeping quarters—including a one-bedroom guest suite with living and dining areas—are spread out.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2026
Alpenblow doesn't list a flow rate but estimated fill-up times for most sleeping pads range between three and five minutes, compared to the 75 seconds Nitecore estimates for the AP01.
—New Atlas, 20 Apr. 2026
As for the sleeping experience itself, some guests report hearing tigers roaring at night.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026
With two sofas, additional seating, flexible sleeping arrangements, and two private sinks, toilets, and showers, this suite is well-suited for travelers who want maximum room or are sharing space with others.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
Much like Murphy beds, these doors conceal a surprise, but not simply an unexpected sleeping space.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
This sleeping mask is like a super-heavy lip balm.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Once constructed, the sleeping cabin program will provide wrap-around services, meals and case management services to residents with the goal of transitioning them into permanent housing.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Most of the rest are up for adoption, including two 1-year-old Göttingen minipigs — named Barrigan and Mulligan — sleeping near Amber and who were sent to the network by a Kansas City area testing lab after being used in research.
—Eric Adler
april 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
Part of the vetting process involves sleeping on these pillows for at least 30 days and always staying up to date with the new pillows that come on the market.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 26 Apr. 2026
Beard pointed out that airline pilots, for instance, often stay in downtown hotels and could be sleeping at any time of the day depending on their flight schedules.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
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
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
Construction on a controversial project to put tiny sleeping cabins for homeless individuals in Lemon Grove is schedued to begin Monday.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Hales says that the majority of sleepers prefer a medium to medium-firm mattress, but your sleeping position is what tips the scale.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
An elevator opens to the fifth floor, where all the sleeping quarters—including a one-bedroom guest suite with living and dining areas—are spread out.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2026
Alpenblow doesn't list a flow rate but estimated fill-up times for most sleeping pads range between three and five minutes, compared to the 75 seconds Nitecore estimates for the AP01.
—New Atlas, 20 Apr. 2026
As for the sleeping experience itself, some guests report hearing tigers roaring at night.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026
With two sofas, additional seating, flexible sleeping arrangements, and two private sinks, toilets, and showers, this suite is well-suited for travelers who want maximum room or are sharing space with others.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
Much like Murphy beds, these doors conceal a surprise, but not simply an unexpected sleeping space.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
This sleeping mask is like a super-heavy lip balm.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
In another, Hurst snapped a picture of a man sleeping rough on a slab of cardboard, one arm shielding his eyes from the sun, and the other pulling up his shirt suggestively.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Once constructed, the sleeping cabin program will provide wrap-around services, meals and case management services to residents with the goal of transitioning them into permanent housing.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Most of the rest are up for adoption, including two 1-year-old Göttingen minipigs — named Barrigan and Mulligan — sleeping near Amber and who were sent to the network by a Kansas City area testing lab after being used in research.
—Eric Adler
april 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
Part of the vetting process involves sleeping on these pillows for at least 30 days and always staying up to date with the new pillows that come on the market.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 26 Apr. 2026
Beard pointed out that airline pilots, for instance, often stay in downtown hotels and could be sleeping at any time of the day depending on their flight schedules.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
-
He was advised to turn back along the same route and keep moving to avoid falling asleep through hypothermia.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In the official teaser, Lowen is slinking around the Crawford family house wearing a silk robe while Verity is fast asleep in bed.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their final resting place is known at last.—
Stephen Smith,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
When one of them crouched to pet the Federicos’ dog Marshall, napping on the floor, Rob explained how Kong dog toys were invented.—
Jonathan Bullington,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
During the Spanish Civil War, when reliable food sources for families and orphanages were scarce, farms in Asturias, Madrid and Valencia raised around 300 breeding female Spanish giant rabbits to help feed those in need.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Because if your yard is breeding mosquitoes, those fixes don’t stand a chance.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nature’s drones are male bees that build the walls and octagonal cells of the hive and die after mating.—
Horace D. Ballard,
Artforum,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Signs warned, caution deers mating.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleeping. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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