insomnia

noun

in·som·nia in-ˈsäm-nē-ə

Synonyms of insomnia

: prolonged and usually abnormal inability to get enough sleep especially due to trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

chronic insomnia

Insomnia is a patient-reported problem characterized by difficulty falling asleep or difficulty maintaining sleep; ie, frequent awakenings, difficulty returning to sleep after awakenings, or awakening too early with inability to return to sleep.—Daniel J. Buysse

Examples of insomnia in a Sentence

has suffered from insomnia virtually his entire life

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In mid-November, Clancy went to the emergency room, reporting racing thoughts, insomnia and other symptoms, which persisted through late November, Heilbrun said. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 Harvard Health notes that for some conditions such as insomnia or migraine headaches, a magnesium supplement may be worth a try, but readers should run it by a doctor first. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Orexin antagonists were developed as a treatment for insomnia, differing from conventional sleeping pills that induce sedation. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 Dozens of other patients described symptoms such as anxiety, acute stress and insomnia, according to the report. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insomnia

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from insomnis sleepless, from in- + somnus sleep — more at somnolent

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of insomnia was in 1739

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Insomnia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insomnia. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

insomnia

noun

in·som·nia in-ˈsäm-nē-ə

: prolonged inability to sleep

Medical Definition

insomnia

noun

in·som·nia in-ˈsäm-nē-ə

: prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep especially due to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

called also agrypnia

insomnia

noun

Synonyms of insomnia

Examples of insomnia in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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