bleary-eyed

American  

[bleer-ee-ahyd] / ˈblɪər iˌaɪd /

Also blear-eyed

adjective

1. having bleary eyes.

2. dull of perception; shortsighted.

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bleary-eyed British  

adjective

1. with eyes blurred, as with old age or after waking

2. physically or mentally unperceptive

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Etymology

Origin of bleary-eyed

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

BBC journalist Thomas Mackintosh was among a few bleary-eyed Scots in Athens who attended a football match against Greece a few hours ago but were up before sunrise for a flight to Heathrow.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2025

Of course, as any bleary-eyed obsessive knows, the real guy is most likely dead at this point, but don’t call filmmaker Charlie Shackleton late to the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2025

She posted frequently, mostly memes about mental illness and extreme close-ups of her face, bleary-eyed like she’d been crying.

From Salon • May 7, 2024

As bleary-eyed migrants climbed onto the train early Saturday morning, they cheered as the train picked up speed and continued them on their winding route north.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 23, 2023

Helene and I are bleary-eyed and exhausted the next morning, but we start out well before dawn.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir