Somnolent - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Somnolent means feeling sleepy or drowsy. It describes a state of near-sleep or the tendency to induce sleepiness, often used to characterize a person, atmosphere, or medication.
Definition:
Sleepy or drowsy, often to the point of being sluggish or lethargic.
Synonyms:
drowsy, sleepy, lethargic, sluggish, dozy
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
alert, awake, energetic
Common Collocations:
somnolent state, somnolent afternoon, somnolent effect, somnolent expression
Derivatives:
somnolence, somnolently
Usage Tips:
Use "somnolent" to describe someone or something inducing sleepiness or appearing drowsy in a formal or literary context.
Common Phrases:
somnolent stupor, somnolent haze, somnolent mood
Etymology:
From Latin "somnolentus," meaning "sleepy," derived from "somnus" (sleep).
Examples:
- 1. The warm sun made him feel somnolent during the long drive.
- 2. Her somnolent eyes betrayed how tired she was after the sleepless night.
- 3. The professor's monotone voice had a somnolent effect on the students.
- 4. A somnolent silence settled over the house in the midday heat.