bleary-eyed

[ bleer-ee-ahyd ]

adjective

1. having bleary eyes.
2. dull of perception; shortsighted.

bleary-eyed

adjective

1. with eyes blurred, as with old age or after waking
2. physically or mentally unperceptive

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleary-eyed¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

In the downstairs exhibit hall, attendees of all ages slumped on the white sofas like bleary-eyed rag dolls.

From The Daily Beast

Shots of a bleary-eyed William leaving a London club at the weekend in today's Daily Mail.

From The Daily Beast

The party scene grew and grew, and many a morning session was attended by bleary-eyed veterans of all-night binges.

From The Daily Beast

So bleary-eyed was Ruth by the time she got to work that her bosses let her go after only three months.

From The Daily Beast

I found him first, a little withered, dried-up old fellow, wrinkled-faced and bleary-eyed and tottery.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a very big, large-boned hound, gray with age and wrinkled and lame, and bleary-eyed.

From Project Gutenberg

Both boys woke up, stiff and bleary-eyed, as dawn light flooded the hotel.

From Project Gutenberg

I saw a bleary-eyed dope fiend going along the street the other day.

From Project Gutenberg

"The others come in around nine," the clerk said, yawning, bleary-eyed.

From Project Gutenberg