sleeping giant

noun

: one that has great but unrealized or newly emerging power

Examples of sleeping giant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Indiana was always a sleeping giant in college football. — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026 The exchange highlighted a sleeping giant of an issue — and one that lawmakers are often reluctant to talk about. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026 Washington may have been good enough to make the playoffs, but the Capitals weren’t a sleeping giant such as Vegas. — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Who’s to say international futbol isn’t ready to begrudgingly welcome a new epoch in the sport, and that is might be led by a host nation that proves itself a sleeping giant awakened? — Greg Cote june 22, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleeping giant

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleeping giant was in 1970

Rhymes for sleeping giant

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Browse Nearby Words

sleeping carriage
sleeping giant
sleeping lizard
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sleeping giant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleeping%20giant. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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