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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Who’s Most Likely to Notice a Difference Both 2025 reviews note limited or mixed results for people with a clinical insomnia diagnosis.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
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And if the issue is clinical insomnia, sleep apnea or something structural, this probably isn’t your answer.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Uranus moving into Gemini incites restlessness with conventional routine.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That same restlessness defined his personal life.—
Michelle Duncan,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More evidence is needed to determine if smelling lemon water can significantly increase energy and alertness.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
17 Apr. 2026
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Dogs bred for alertness or reactivity may be more attuned to sound, though this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wakefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wakefulness. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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