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.
Here's what insomnia is, what causes it and how it's typically treated. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 Common side effects include dizziness, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, headache, insomnia and loss of appetite. Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Mild effects, such as drowsiness, headache, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting, are common. Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 In Russia, phenibut is a prescription drug used to treat anxiety, insomnia, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and other ailments. Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 25 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insomnia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insomnia. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

: prolonged inability to sleep

Medical Definition

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

called also agrypnia

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