apnea

[ap-nee-uh] / ˈæp ni ə /

NOUN

break

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hiatus intermission interval layoff lull pause recess respite rest suspension time off

STRONG

breakoff breather caesura cutoff downtime halt interlude lacuna letup

WEAK

breathing space coffee break time-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

continuation persistence

WEAK

binding continuity juncture

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Her requests for coverage have been denied, despite a diagnosis of sleep apnea.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

This helps lower the likelihood that the upper airway will collapse during sleep, which is the main cause of obstructive sleep apnea.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

The drug is also approved to help treat moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

By his final year on the job, his doctor told him he was dealing with prediabetes, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, acid reflux, and obesity.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

Berkner suggests that there may have been cycles of oxygen production and carbon dioxide consumption, depending on relative abundances of plant and animal life, with the ice ages representing periods of apnea.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas