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
Daniel J. Buysse
Examples of insomnia in a Sentence
has suffered from insomnia virtually his entire life
Recent Examples on the Web
The story follows a musician plagued by insomnia who is pulled into an odyssey with a stranger who begins to unravel the very core of his existence.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2025
More studies are needed to understand chamomile's role in insomnia and sleep quality.
—Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 3 Feb. 2025
More people are turning to marijuana for help, with promising results for those struggling with insomnia and other sleep disorders.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Poor sleep hygiene not only reduces the quality of your sleep but, according to a 2023 study, may contribute to the development of depression and insomnia.
—Anna Haines, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for insomnia 
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.
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2025
More studies are needed to understand chamomile's role in insomnia and sleep quality.
—Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 3 Feb. 2025
More people are turning to marijuana for help, with promising results for those struggling with insomnia and other sleep disorders.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Poor sleep hygiene not only reduces the quality of your sleep but, according to a 2023 study, may contribute to the development of depression and insomnia.
—Anna Haines, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for insomnia
Dictionary Entries Near insomnia
Cite this Entry
“Insomnia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insomnia. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share