as in insomnia
the inability to obtain adequate sleep
a nagging wakefulness that seemed resistant to all of the standard home remedies
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Recent Examples of wakefulness
Green tea contains caffeine, which can promote wakefulness and alertness.
—
Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
This midday slump is a natural dip in wakefulness your body experiences in the mid-afternoon.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 6 Jan. 2026
These drugs don't actually provide laser-sharp focus but may instead boost wakefulness and engagement, helping the brain stay with tasks rather than hold attention.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
More to the point, the old idea that serotonin is a simple, sleep-promoting signal in the brain is fully out of fashion; later research found that serotonin may also be a potent source of wakefulness, and that its function in the sleep-wake cycle is both complicated and diverse.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2025
Some researchers are using this state between sleep and wakefulness to study the nature of consciousness itself.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
On average, kids were awake for 38 minutes per night, while parents estimated fewer than five minutes of wakefulness.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Sleepwalking explores the narrow yet profound space between the vigilant awareness of wakefulness and the surrender to the unknown feelings and sensations of sleep.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
The programme has also been designed to educate guests on how to achieve good sleep when back at home and how factors, such as nutrition, gut health, stress and water retention, are all interconnected and play a part with insomnia and wakefulness.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wakefulness
Noun
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Paradoxical intent, as it’s known, is commonly used to treat conditions such as insomnia.—
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But claims that pot can alleviate insomnia, chronic pain and other ailments have little or no empirical support.—
Noun
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Bowie’s genius was a driver and a result of an unquenchable inner restlessness.—
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This is because of the productive restlessness that Safdie fosters in his colleagues, many of whom have been at his side for decades, and, of course, the spirit of his wildly original new character.—
Noun
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The company positions the technology as a support tool for resilience and readiness, especially in roles that demand sustained alertness.—
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Green tea contains caffeine, which can promote wakefulness and alertness.—
Cite this Entry
“Wakefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wakefulness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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