NIGHT OWL Synonyms: 8 Similar and Opposite Words

night owl

noun

Definition of night owl

as in nighthawk

a person who is active late at night a night owl whose spouse is more of an early bird

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

early bird

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of night owl Fall is here and early risers and night owls know that when the sun is down, feet get chilly. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026 Some of the bodily clocks that affect you every day are the sleep-wake, or circadian, rhythm and your chronotype, which is the body’s natural timing preference – often described as being either an early bird or a night owl. — Masha Remskar, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026 Researchers have found that trying to force a morning person into a late-night brainstorming session is a recipe for disaster—the same goes for night owls being expected to be at their best first thing. — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Even for a night owl like me, standard time is the better option. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for night owl

Recent Examples of Synonyms for night owl

nighthawk

Noun

Nearby, Rodriguez is mimicking the call of a nighthawk.

— Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
Somewhere in the desert, nighthawks are rising from reefs of blood-red clouds.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Definition of nighthawk

Browse Nearby Words

nightmarish

night owl

night owls

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Night owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/night%20owl. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of night owl

noun

Example Sentences

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