I'd just woken up and was still drowsy.
Source: tatoeba (40117)
Drowsy
/ˈdɹaʊzi/
Synonyms for "drowsy" (91 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (19)
Strong matches (27)
drugged with sleepgentlinggroggyhalf asleepheavyheavy with sleepheavy-eyedhushingin a stuporlackadaisicallanguidlanguorouslazylethargiclistlesslullingmollifyingnappingnarcolepticnarcose
Show 1 more word
Verb(1 words)
Noun(1 words)
more lethargic
Related words (45)
Adjective(10 words)
Noun(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: anesthetized, appeasing, asleep, bleary, boring.
- Sentence evidence is available for drowsy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "drowsy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "drowsy"
Keep "drowsy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "drowsy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "drowsy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "drowsy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesdrowsy drivingdrowsy eyelidsdrowsy gazedrowsy heatdrowsy morningfeel drowsy
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
20 translations across 12 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- приспивателен adj (disposing to sleep)
Czech
1 entries- uspávající adj (disposing to sleep)
Finnish
2 entries- nukuttava adj (disposing to sleep)
- unettava adj (disposing to sleep)
French
1 entries- soporifique adj (disposing to sleep)
German
1 entries- einschläfernd adj (disposing to sleep)
Italian
1 entries- soporifero adj (disposing to sleep)
Macedonian
1 entries- дре́млив adj (disposing to sleep)
Māori
2 entries- harotu adj (disposing to sleep)
- pōuruuru adj (disposing to sleep)
Russian
2 entries- снотво́рный adj (disposing to sleep)
- усыпля́ющий adj (disposing to sleep)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- suaineach adj (disposing to sleep)
Serbo-Croatian
4 entries- drèmljiv adj (disposing to sleep)
- pȍspān adj (disposing to sleep)
- дрѐмљив adj (disposing to sleep)
- по̏спа̄н adj (disposing to sleep)
Spanish
3 entries- somnífero adj (disposing to sleep)
- soporífero adj (disposing to sleep)
- soñoliento adj (disposing to sleep)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
Why should he feel drowsy whenever he begins to study?
Source: tatoeba (303580)
She became drowsy after supper.
Source: tatoeba (317320)
I sometimes feel drowsy in the early afternoon.
Source: tatoeba (953618)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "drowsy"?
Closest matches include anesthetized, appeasing, asleep, bleary, boring.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "drowsy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.