somnolence
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- hypersomnolence noun
- insomnolence noun
Explanation
Somnolence is a sleepy state. New parents often stagger through their days in somnolence, after spending their nights up with a baby who only sleeps for a few hours at a time. Use the noun somnolence when you're talking about drowsiness. You might be overcome with somnolence in a boring class, especially if you didn't get much sleep the night before. Also, someone who seems to be out of it, going through life like a sleepwalker can be described as experiencing somnolence, which comes from the Latin word somnolentia, sleepiness.
Vocabulary lists containing somnolence
Walden
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Where I Lived and What I Lived For"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Harriet Tubman
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Potential adverse events the companies knew about included depression, suicidal ideation, somnolence, edema, dizziness and confusion, documents from lawsuits show.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025
Organized labor shows corporate managements who’s the boss: This year continued the strengthening of union power after decades of somnolence.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2023
Supporters of Paris have greeted this somnolence with relief, eager to avoid another showdown like Bali.
From The Guardian • Jul. 30, 2020
Perhaps feeling that there’s no point in competing with a royal tornado, the rest of the cast turns in nigh-invisible performances that lean toward somnolence or stiffness.
From New York Times • Jan. 23, 2018
Sometimes nothing will rouse her from her bed, from a somnolence that coats the very air she breathes.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
