somnolent

[ som-nuh-luhnt ]

adjective

1. sleepy; drowsy.

   Synonyms: slumberous

2. tending to cause sleep.

   Synonyms: soporific, somniferous

somnolent

/ ˈsɒmnələnt /

adjective

1. drowsy; sleepy
2. causing drowsiness

Derived Forms

• ˈsomnolently, adverb
• ˈsomnolence, noun

Other Words From

• somno·lence somno·len·cy noun
• somno·lent·ly adverb
• hyper·somno·lence noun
• hyper·somno·lent adjective
• hyper·somno·lent·ly adverb
• semi·somno·lence noun
• semi·somno·lent adjective
• semi·somno·lent·ly adverb
• un·somno·lent adjective
• un·somno·lent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of somnolent¹

1425–75; late Middle English sompnolent < Old French < Latin somnolentus, derivative of somnus sleep; -ulent

Word History and Origins

Origin of somnolent¹

C15: from Latin somnus sleep

Example Sentences

With the notable exception of this June’s Trump-Biden debate, in which Trump allowed a somnolent Joe Biden to gawk and mumble his way toward lame-duck status, most of the general-election debates in which Trump has participated since 2016 have been chaotic affairs.

From Slate

Then Trump is elevated as some type of fascist god king at the Republican National Convention and what should have been something out of "Triumph of the Will" and Hitler and the Nazis was something more somnolent and akin to a tired premier giving a speech before the Supreme Soviet.

From Salon

He became somnolent in his cold cocoon.

From Literature

Ham turned a disjointed team into something tough and competitive and changed the entire somnolent Lakers culture.

From Los Angeles Times

Amid skepticism that he couldn’t coach at the higher level, Jackson tore the program down to the studs, brought in 86 new players, and blanketed the somnolent program with passion and positivity.

From Los Angeles Times