Synonyms

bleary

American

[bleer-ee] / ˈblɪər i /

adjective

blearier, bleariest

(of the eyes or sight) blurred or dimmed, as from sleep or weariness.
indistinct; unclear.

The day begins with a bleary view of one's world.
fatigued; worn-out.

bleary British

/ ˈblɪərɪ /

adjective

(of eyes or vision) dimmed or blurred, as by tears or tiredness
indistinct or unclear
exhausted; tired

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

blearily adverb
bleariness noun

Etymology

Origin of bleary

1350–1400; Middle English blery. See blear (adj.), -y ¹

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.

She was clad in a sweatshirt and bleary from the early hour.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Instead, my laptop greeted my bleary eyes with a font of good tidings.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2025

The Atlanta rapper Future and superproducer Metro, each known for dark, bleary styles that defined the 2010s, have had a fruitful collaboration going back more than a decade.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024

This morning, through bleary eyes, there is some surprise.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2023

Clare’s bleary eye opened to find the badger trundling away, crossing into Fernlight.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023