What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
drowsiness
Example
I had trouble staying awake during the meeting due to my drowsiness. [drowsiness: noun]
Example
The medication made me feel drowsy and unable to focus. [drowsy: adjective]
sleepiness
Example
I couldn't resist the sleepiness and dozed off on the couch. [sleepiness: noun]
Example
The long flight left me feeling sleepy and disoriented. [sleepy: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sleepiness is more commonly used than drowsiness in everyday language. Sleepiness is a more specific term that is commonly used to describe the feeling of being ready to fall asleep or dozing off, while drowsiness is a less common term that is more neutral in connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between drowsiness and sleepiness?
Both drowsiness and sleepiness are neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
