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insomnia
noun
in·som·nia
in-ˈsäm-nē-ə
: 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
Weighted blankets have been beneficial for some people who struggle with insomnia and anxiety.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
The best remedy for insomnia, as with most things in life, is learning to live with it.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Morgenthaler said other treatments are still needed, noting that 30% to 40% of sleep apnea patients suffer from insomnia, as well, and that opening the airway alone does not provide relief.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024
The insomnia of his undercover years finally abated.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 4 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near insomnia
Cite this Entry
“Insomnia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insomnia. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
insomnia
noun
in·som·nia
in-ˈsäm-nē-ə
: prolonged inability to sleep
Medical Definition
insomnia
noun
in·som·nia
in-ˈsäm-nē-ə
: prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep especially due to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
called also agrypnia
More from Merriam-Webster on insomnia
Nglish: Translation of insomnia for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of insomnia for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insomnia
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