INSOMNIA Synonyms: 7 Similar and Opposite Words

insomnia

noun

in-ˈsäm-nē-ə

Definition of insomnia

as in restlessness

the inability to obtain adequate sleep has suffered from insomnia virtually his entire life

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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.

Recent Examples of insomnia 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 Gomez-Salais had experienced chest pain, panic, weakness, and insomnia, per her complaint. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 In fact, clinical studies have found that drinking tart cherry juice may improve sleep duration and quality, particularly in older adults and people with insomnia. — Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insomnia

Recent Examples of Synonyms for insomnia

Noun

He’s never settled into a particular genre and, perhaps due to that wide-ranging restlessness, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be awarding him an honorary Oscar in November.

— Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Tisch went to law school, eventually landing (with some restlessness) in real estate finance at Vornado Realty Trust and then at information services company KGB.

— Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of restlessness

Noun

Orexins help regulate wakefulness, as well as attention, motivation and the brain’s reward system.

— Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026
But in people with narcolepsy, such boundaries become blurred, allowing elements of sleep to intrude into wakefulness in varying ways.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of wakefulness

Noun

If a woman’s brain fog is recorded as early signs of dementia, her anxiety as psychiatric condition, or her sleeplessness as an isolated complaint, the symptom or misdiagnosis may enter the medical record, but its connection to menopause disappears.

— Yulin Hswen, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026
Symptoms Symptoms can include sleeplessness, extreme worry about the baby or childbirth, restlessness and a racing heartbeat.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of sleeplessness

Noun

To achieve this, the locus coeruleus continuously alternates between tonic activity—governing baseline arousal and alertness—and brief phasic bursts that focus attention on critical events.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
During the campaign, candidates are in a state of constant alertness.

— Max Taves, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of alertness

Browse Nearby Words

insolvents

insomnia

insomniac

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

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Synonyms of insomnia

noun

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