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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sleeping_beauty.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:You are getting sleepy. Very sleepy...]]

This is a kind of [[MagicAndPowers spell or power]] that induces sleep in the target. Typically, it's not the character's only ability; it may be one application of FunctionalMagic, CharmPerson, CompellingVoice, or MagicMusic.

In video games, this will take the form of a StatusEffect.

InstantSedation is the technological equivalent. Compare TheParalyzer.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Manga/CardCaptorSakura'', the eponymous character uses the Sleep Card to put {{Muggles}} to sleep when she needs to subdue another Card spirit or something else she doesn't want them to see.
* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
** Mystogan uses a seriously powerful field of sleep magic whenever he comes to the guild to get a job that usually knocks out everyone in the room. Even Makarov feels drowsy when he comes around.
** [[LightIsNotGood Larcade]] of Alvarez has three powers, of which R.I.P. is the most dangerous, as it causes extreme drowsiness that not even pain can snap you out of, and once you close your eyes, you'll enter an eternal slumber you'll never wake up from.
* In ''Literature/{{Gate}}'', Tuka and Lelei both know spells that can make people fall asleep.
* ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa'': In the episode "Flower Power", Kirby is tricked by Dedede into inhaling a Noddy which causes the victim to fall into a sleep that lasts for a hundred years. The only way to wake Kirby up is with the smell of the Pukey Flower.
* ''Anime/MidnightHorrorSchool'': In Episode 21, Liddy sings a song that makes everyone in the school, except herself, fall asleep. Not only that, they [[SleepWalking sleepwalk]] too.
* Shouta from ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'' casts a sleep spell on Saikawa at one point to keep her from seeing Elma's dragon form. He later uses a more powerful version to win a WizardDuel.
* In the ''Anime/Moomin1990'' episode "Midwinter Bonfire" and its follow-up "The Spell", the Witch, frustrated that her granddaughter Alicia is being [[BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad positively influenced by the Moomin family]], uses a spell to make them sleep forever. While the spell isn't shown putting them to sleep (as it's cast while they're asleep during hibernation), it makes it impossible for anyone to wake the Moomins up unless the counter-spell is used.
* Midnight, a pro hero in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', has this as her Quirk, Somnambulist. She can release an intoxicating aroma from her body that can quickly put people to sleep, making her invaluable in hostage situations and taking down tough or excessively violent opponents.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
** The Sound Village's attack on the Leaf Village begins by a group of Sound ninja casting a sleep-inducing genjutsu on the crowd watching the Chunin exams. Most of the actual ninja were able to notice and dispel it.
** Gaara has the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Forced Sleep Technique]] which seems only usable on ''himself''--his [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan Bijuu]] takes over his body while he's asleep, which makes him so [[TheInsomniac averse to sleep]] that he'd presumably have difficulty doing so otherwise.
* In ''Manga/NightmareInspector'', Hiruko uses his magic as a [[DreamStealer baku]] to put his clients to sleep so he can enter (and eventually consume) their nightmares.
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Brook once plays a special tone on his violin that puts his foes (and his own captain) nearby to sleep. The pirate Bobbin, a member of Big Mom's crew, can do something similar by ringing his head like a bell.
* ''Manga/PoisonBerryInMyBrain'': [[HumanoidAbomination The Mysterious Woman]] has the power to make the other members of the committee fall asleep so that nobody can get in the way of what she wants.
* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', Jigglypuff inadvertently puts its audience to sleep whenever it sings. It doesn't seem to understand that this is its signature ability, and [[BerserkButton just assumes the audience is being rude]]. Its [[FaceDoodling means of revenge on a sleeping audience]] is pretty well-known to Ash and friends.
* ''Manga/RaveMaster'': Chien Viverrien, one of the Six Guards of the Blue Guardians pirate gang, holds the power of the Dark Bring "Dulx Dormir", which can release a stream of leaves that put anyone in the way into a deep, eight-hour long sleep. [[FatBastard Chien then proceeds to viciously pummel his victims while they're unable to fight back or wake up,]] but his trick fails to work on Musica because the latter, at the moment, is too furious to even think about sleep.
* Given the protagonist of ''Manga/SleepyPrincessInTheDemonCastle'' is obsessed with sleeping, this was bound to crop up a few times:
** At one point Princess Syalis attempts to cast a sleep spell on herself. Unfortunately, this is an RPGMechanicsVerse with NoSelfBuffs, so she ends up knocking out everyone in the castle ''except'' herself.
** One of the cursed items stored in the Demon Castle banquet is a cursed spindle that will put anyone who pricks their finger on it to sleep for a hundred years. Syalis is well acquainted with ''Literature/SleepingBeauty'' and naturally takes an interest, although even she concludes that sleeping for a century is "a bit long" and decides to find a way to weaken the curse before subjecting herself to it. Unfortunately, Poseidon accidentally jabs himself on the spindle while trying to keep an [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Eggplant Seal]] away from it, forcing the demons to locate the witch who originally cursed it so that she can release him from the curse. When they finally find her, [[spoiler: it turns out that the curse actually only lasts for a day; the witch made up the "100 years" thing because it sounded more impressive.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* In Creator/MarvelComics' ''Comicbook/{{DP7}}'' Lenore exudes an energy from her skin which sucks up the life energy of those exposed to it, so if anyone sees any of her their energy gets sucked out of them and they pass out. One of the other Displaced is a Speedster who can't turn off his speeding, so she exposes her face to him so he can sleep once in a while.
* In the ''ComicBook/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'', Zatanna uses a spell to put Batman to sleep [[spoiler:after Batman wakes up from Superman having broken his back.]]
* In ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' 196, the Psycho-Pirate--who can [[EmotionControl cause others to feel whatever emotion he is showing on his face]]--causes Hour-Man to fall asleep by surrounding him with images of his face showing tiredness.
* Inverted in an issue of ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperheroes'' where the government of the planet of Naltor, most of whose citizens have precognitive abilities, transmits a signal that prevents the planet's youth from sleeping, because sleep is necessary to their precognition and the government don't want them to see the future, in which there is a war coming that will necessitate a draft.
* In ''Comicbook/PS238,'' Marvin from [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower the Rainmaker Program]] has this ability.
* ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' has two instances. First, prior to her escape, Molly's evil mutant parents use their psychic abilities to force her to go to sleep (and it's implied that they've done this before.) Much later, Nico uses the "Settle Down" spell to force Klara to sleep after the latter suffers a panic attack... which, of course, [[WhatTheHellHero pisses off Molly]] after she finds out about it.
* In ''ComicBook/{{The Sandman|1989}}'', Dream is capable of compelling mortals to sleep.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Shadowpact}}'', the villain White Rabbit has an enchanted sword that causes instant sleep when it draws blood.
* ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}}'': At the end of ''[[Recap/TintinFlight714 Flight 714]]'', [[spoiler:aliens use their psychic powers to wipe everyone's memories of the events on the island, then compel them all to sleep.]]
* In a parody of Dark City, the [[{{ComicBook/Futurama}} Futurama]] comic had an issue where pastiches of the Strangers were telepathically putting New New York to sleep so they could use their reality warping powers to rewrite the place as more wholesome and productive, planning to eventually improve the whole world in this way as they've done to every planet they've traveled to before. Fortunately at the same time they arrived Fry happened to be drinking an extra-caffeinated version of Slurm, keeping him awake to witness and eventually thwart their plan.
* An indirect example from ''ComicBook/TheSmurfs'' has the eponymous item from "The Magic Flute" [[InvoluntaryDance force people to dance when played]] but also tire them out so quickly that they pass out. This becomes a serious problem to fix when a thief gets a hold of it and begins raiding multiple villages and settlements of their treasure.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* ''Literature/SnowWhite'' is similar to ''Literature/SleepingBeauty'' below, though in the original version she dies and then comes back to life.
* In ''Literature/SleepingBeauty,'' ''Literature/SunMoonAndTalia'' and their variants, the title character is under some kind of curse/fate to sleep forever, until an outside force wakes them up.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNVEYpBCYDg This]] fan song based off of ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'' shows that the Other Mother has this ability.
* ''Fanfic/FleetOfTheHomewardBound:'' When each of the shipgirls tries to check the status of her crew, the only information they get is that the crewmembers are "Asleep in their quarters". This even includes any Artificial(or Virtual) Intelligence above a certain level of self-awareness, such as Analyzer or Data, who don't ''need'' to sleep or even ''have'' quarters to sleep in. At one point, Normandy gets EDI to essentially "sleep talk" to gain access to Babylon 5's jump gates.
* ''Fanfic/TheHeartTrilogy'': When [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Fankil]] resurrects Kathryn in the beginning of ''Heart of Ashes'', she screams wildly due to her broken mind. Not wanting anyone to be alerted by the screaming, Fankil places a sleeping spell on her. It's all he has time to do before the nearby merchant caravan attacks him.
* ''Fanfic/PastSins'': Nightmare Moon can force people to sleep, possibly needing physical contact and being in cloud form:
--> “I don’t believe that will be necessary,” Nightmare Moon answered Silver Platter. “After all, you’re about to go to sleep.”\\
Before Silver Platter could turn around, Nightmare Moon had transformed into a cloud and engulfed him. In but a few moments the deed was done. She laid the sleeping Silver Platter out on the floor before disguising herself in his image.
* ''Fanfic/ThePowerOfTheEquinox'': Rarity knows a sleep spell which she uses on Spike in the eight chapter. Her mother used it on her when she was a foal and taught her to use it on her little sister should she have trouble sleeping. However, Rarity explains that the spell doesn't force the target to sleep. It merely suggests them to sleep, working only on an already tired mind.
* ''Fanfic/VowOfNudity'': In one story, a noblewoman grabs a Wand of Sleep from her nursery to use against Haara. The fact that it was in the nursery suggests she uses it to put her son to bed.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Near the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheFlightOfDragons'', an entire flight of dragons is disabled by an enchanted flute that puts dragons to sleep when it's played. However, it has no effect on Bryagh, Ommadon's dragon - and since it also put the good dragon to sleep, he's able to descend on the party all but unopposed.
* ''WesternAnimation/SecretMagicControlAgency'': Baba Yaga feeds Hansel and Gretel cookies laced with a sleep potion so that she can eat them.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', after Princess Aurora succumbs to Maleficent's enchanted spinning wheel, the three good fairies cast a spell on everyone in the castle so that they'll all sleep until she wakes up.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the red moon ritual seems to involve magically putting the person undergoing the ritual to sleep so that their mind can enter the astral realm.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/DarkCity'', the Strangers are capable of putting humans to sleep at will simply by waving their hands and saying "sleep". They do this quite regularly in order to perform their experiments on the people in the city. One of the Strangers has the MeaningfulName Mr. Sleep.
* In ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', E.T. lulls Elliott to sleep when they first meet, presumably in order to establish their psychic bond.
* ''Film/TheForceAwakens'': When the First Order comes looking for the map, Kylo Ren determines Rey has seen it when he finds her and waves his hand in her face, causing her to fall unconscious.
* ''Film/IronMonkey'': Attackers used the powder on Orchid, although it didn't immediately put her to sleep. They also attempted to use it again against Wong Fei-Hung, but he threw it back against the attacker.
* ''Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'': The faun Mr. Tumnus makes Lucy, the visitor from another world, fall asleep by playing her a Narnian lullaby on his pan flute. He's imediately [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone very sorry]] for doing so as soon as she drops unconscious and he realises he was just about to drug a little girl to betray her to the authorities - and wakes her up and helps her get out of Narnia back to her own world in secret instead.
* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'': Mantis can make people fall asleep with a touch thanks to her empathic power. [[spoiler:It even works on ''Ego the Living Planet''.]]
** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': Mantis uses this power again on [[spoiler:the Mad Titan himself.]]
** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': [[spoiler:A time-traveling Captain America uses Loki's scepter to induce sleep on himself from the year 2012 to resolve their MirrorMatch.]]
* This is an ability of the rogue angel Gabriel in ''Film/TheProphecy''. It takes inspiration from Literature/TheBible, where the ArchangelGabriel has the ability to make people collapse in a stunned heap with his mere presence.
* The Wicked Witch in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' seems to have the ability to create poppies that cause this effect.
* ''Film/XMenFirstClass'': With his psychic powers, Charles Xavier puts a Soviet general and a soldier that Erik had covered in barbed wire to sleep.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* ''Literature/{{Sorcery}}'': The NAP spell, when cast while swinging a magical pendulum, can induce sleep on any intended targets.
* ''Literature/TempleOfTerror'': One of the spells available right at the start is Creature Sleep, which can make any enemies fall asleep instantly (like what its name said). It's one of the better defensive spells in the book, costing only 1 stamina point and works on most opponents.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheAfterward'': Sir Terriam was put into slumber by a spell on the quest so that a spell causing her an [[LovePotion induced infatuation]] ceased. Mage Ladros later also puts their horses to sleep when the party is in a battle, so they don't get into a panic.
* ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'': Holly and other fairies often use their ''[[MindControl mesmer]]'' to induce this in humans.
* ''Literature/DaughterOfTheSun'': Aelia uses her magic to make a couple guards fall asleep so she can spirit Ioanna away.
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', a JerkassGod does this to one character who "woke up too early" while sleeping on the ruins of his temple. He had to talk to the protagonists, and wanted no listeners.
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', putting people to sleep is one of the few mind-influencing effects that is ''not'' considered illegal by the White Council. That's because it's used exclusively to induce dreamless sleep in victims of psychic attacks, providing relief from their mental suffering.
* Creator/MercedesLackey's ''{{Literature/Firebird|Lackey}}'': The Firebird's MagicMusic induces sleep in all who hear it. She uses this ability to steal Tsar Ivan's cherries from under the noses of his guards. Ilya defeats it by festooning his clothing with pins that poke him if he starts to drop off, and holds another pin in each hand for good measure. The spell is useless against the EvilSorcerer Katschei's dragon, which is an automaton that listens only to what it's been ordered to. In the climax, however, [[spoiler:Ilya summons the Firebird into the Katschei's throne room and she puts all his monsters to sleep. Even the Katschei is affected strongly enough to give Ilya (once again using pain to counter the effect) enough time to reach his SoulJar and smash it at his feet.]]
* In ''Literature/{{Firestarter}}'', Andy uses his CompellingVoice to tell a Shop agent to "go to sleep." The man remains asleep for six months, and even after he wakes up, every time somebody mentions the word "sleep" in his presence, he will fall into a deep slumber again that usually lasts for four hours to a day.
** Creator/StephenKing uses this one again in ''Literature/DoctorSleep'', with Andi being the character with this power.
* ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheMiraclesDistrict'' has a calligraphomancer - a witch working by writing - whose favourite spell seems to be the one that puts everyone in its area of effect to sleep. She usually doesn't add the wake-up time to it.
* ''Literature/GoblinsInTheCastle'': Twice in ''Goblins on the Prowl''.
** Shortly after the stone toad comes to life and the group finds the warning "Beware of Helagon" on its pedestal, the Baron recognizes the name and is about to tell them what he knows about the man (or wizard, rather), only to be suddenly forced into an enchanted sleep. Bwoonhiwda later tells the cast that they need to break the spell soon or he'll die of starvation.
** When Fauna and her group meet the sorceress Sophronia, she reveals she's put ''herself'' in an enchanted sleep that lasts about a year, and after a few days awake (to check on the stone toad of Toad-in-a-Cage Castle), returns to it. She's been doing this for seventy-five years.
* When Navaeli and company reach Silamir’s temple in the first book of ''Literature/HeraldsOfRhimn'', the goddess uses her influence to forcibly put Navaeli to sleep for a private conversation, since dreams are the only place where gods and mortals can properly meet face-to-face.
* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'': during his sojourn in Heaven as a minor deity, Sun Wukong won several "slumber bugs" at gambling with other gods and kept them on his person during the journey. At one point he decides to deliver some karma to a buddhist-hating king by using the bugs to put the entire court to sleep and then use his clones to shave everyone in the palace bald, making them all look like buddhist monks.
* ''Literature/MaxAndTheMidknights'': When Fendra turns herself into a monster to attack the [[KidHero Midknights]], Millie hits her with a spell that puts her to sleep.
* In the ''Literature/OldKingdom'' series, [[MagicMusic ringing the bell]] Ranna can put both the living and the [[TheUndead Dead]] to sleep. [[BackgroundMagicField Charter Magic]] can be used to the same effect.
* In the final book in the ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series, Morpheus casts a spell on all of Manhattan. It's spread out so thinly that the demigods aren't affected, but all the mortals (except Rachel) are.
* ''Literature/{{Perelandra}}'': [[spoiler: Maleldil]] does this to [[spoiler: both Tinidril and the Un-Man]] to enable an undisturbed chat with Ransom.
* ''Literature/PiilomaanPikkuAasi'': Mukkelis Muuli overthrew the donkey king by poisoning the water supply with sleeping potion, and later he forces his subjects to drink juice and eat ice cream that makes people lazy.
* ''Literature/PrincessesOfThePizzaParlor'': ''Cookies and Campers'': The [[spoiler:Twa-San]] "can cause any target with full attention on them to fall asleep".
* ''Literature/{{Quarters}}'': A Bard can make someone sleep with a [[MagicMusic Song]], only reawakening when they bid it.
* The protagonist of ''Literature/{{Renegades}}'', Nova, can instantly put someone to sleep just by touching them.
* ''Literature/TheSagaOfTheGreenlanders'': Shortly after killing several natives on the headland of Krossanes, Thorvald and his companions suddenly get so sleepy they cannot stay awake. A supernatural voice wakes them up just in time to escape from a host of vengeful natives. The implication is that the natives have cast a sleep spell on them.
* In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', Lúthien can cast almost any kind of creature into an enchanted sleep. It even works on giant demon-wolves and fallen Valar.
* In ''Literature/TheSpiritRing'' Abbot Monreale (a sorcerer as well as a Christian clergyman) and two of his brother monks attempt to cast a spell of "deep sleep" on the villain and his own sorcerous henchman, but the enemy sorcerer is able to turn the tables and instead send Monreale into a coma-like state of unconsciousness.
* ''Literature/SweetAndBitterMagic'': Marlena tries to put Tamsin asleep while they fight, so she can draw on her magic with no further interference while she's magically slumbering.
* ''Literature/ThirdTimeLuckyAndOtherStoriesOfTheMostPowerfulWizardInTheWorld'':
** In "Mirror, Mirror, on the Lam", Magdelene puts the Tarzabad-har governor's guards to sleep by magic so she can talk with him.
** In "We Two May Meet", she puts two bodyguards of a doctor to sleep when they try removing her.
* ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'': On the Island of the Star - or [[WrongGenreSavvy so the main characters assume]] - there seems to be a SchmuckBanquet. As explained by Lilliandil when she finds them at the table afraid to eat anything: the feast actually is a completely benign one set up in Aslan's honor (and any travellers are welcome to be his guests and tuck in) - the reason the Telmarines in a many years' sleep beside it were cursed was a different one: a DivinePunishment for trying to use the stone knife set up in the center of the table to fight one another. Since this knife is the setting's equivalent to the One True Cross (and more importantly their purpose with it was not exactly what He thinks good either), the [[CrystalDragonJesus deity in question]] was [[GodIsDispleased less than amused]]. Outright smiting them would have caused serious problems with the plot, so the sleepers are cursed until someone can find a way to disenchant them (which is one of the main characters going to the setting's equivalent of {{Heaven}}).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'':
** "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E1InThroesOfIncreasingWonder In Throes of Increasing Wonder...]]": While in a [[ThreeWaySex threesome]] with Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lily, Lestat de Lioncourt uses his vampire powers to put Lily to sleep so that he can have Louis all to himself.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1DNtxOO0DI&t=2m47s In the extended Season 2 trailer,]] Armand has the ability to make everyone sitting at the dining table lose consciousness with his PsychicPowers.
* ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'':
** In the first episode, a witch puts Uther's court to sleep with [[MagicMusic a song]]. Merlin avoids the effects by [[MundaneSolution plugging his ears]].
** In "The Fires of Idirsholas", Morgause lulls Morgana into a trance so that she can cast a spell on her that causes everyone in Camelot to fall into a deep sleep when she sends her back there. [[ConvenientComa This sort of thing happens to Morgana]] [[ButtMonkey pretty regularly actually]].
* ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': In "Mother Mycellum", Raelle accidentally casts a sleeping spell on her entire class. Later, Anacostia uses one on her in order to sneak her into the prison and back without her being able to recall where the prison is.
* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'': A recurring joke has one of the characters yelling "SLEEEEEEEP!" at another, oftentimes in the middle of otherwise typical hypnosis-styled scenes in order to put someone to sleep.
* ''Series/TheOrder'': A sleep spell exists, while the powder used to [[LaserGuidedAmnesia wipe people's memories memories]] also makes them fall down unconscious.
* Several examples in ''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'' and its sequel ''[[Series/PowerRangersCosmicFury Cosmic Fury]]'':
** In several episodes, villains use "sleeping cuffs" on captives, often to set up a HostageForMacGuffin situation for the heroes or to use the person as a LivingBattery.
** In the episode "Crossed Wires", the villains plan to release a "sleep bomb" that will knock out the entire city so Void Knight can hunt for the {{MacGuffin}}s in peace. Aiyon, Javi, and Ollie all succumb to it, forcing [[BookDumb Izzy]] to apply [[TheSmartGuy Ollie]]'s lessons about electronics to save the day.
** The Rangers also have a "Snooze Dino Key" in their arsenal, which forces opponents to sleep. They mainly use it when they want to non-lethally subdue an opponent, like a BrainwashedAndCrazy team mate.
* ''Series/{{Preacher|2016}}'': After Tulip stops sleeping in order to avoid having nightmares of her encounter with the Saint of Killers, which in turn causes her to engage in increasingly dangerous behavior, Jesse finally decides to use Genesis to force her to sleep.
* Sam, from ''Series/SamAndCat'' has the ability to pinch someone KO, as seen in the episode "#peezyB". It's (very lightly) implied that the victims fall asleep, as the victims are being told "good night" beforehand and are referred to as sleeping FAR more often than as unconscious.
* ''Series/TheSandman2022'': As in the original comic book series, Dream can force mortals to sleep.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS01E07QLess Q-Less]]", Q gets annoyed that Bashir is making moves on Vash and suggests that he looks "very, very tired", which of course, by the power of Q, immediately becomes the case. Bashir isn't seen again until the very last scene of the episode.
-->'''Bashir:''' I feel as though I've been asleep for days. ''[notices strange looks from the others]'' What? Did I miss something?
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** In the episode "What Is And What Should Never Be" the djinn induces a sleep state, where a person's greatest wish is true, while he drains blood from his victims.
** Angels have the ability to induce sleep in human targets by touching their forehead. Castiel demonstrated this with Bobby in his first appearance but otherwise rarely uses it, opting for the TouchOfDeath instead.
* ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway''. The guys seem to invoke this from time to time. For example, from the U.S. version:
** In a game of Greatest Hits, Colin is able to put Ryan to sleep, simply by tapping his temple, and wake him up again by doing the same.
** In a game of Helping Hands, Ryan has Colin grab Kathy Greenwood's face, then says, "Aaaaaand... sleep!" Kathy starts to stumble, as if to fall asleep on the spot, until Ryan says, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding," then she regains herself.
* Quinn from ''Series/Zoey101'' has a similar ability by pinching people's elbow which instantly knocks them out.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* In European folklore, the Sandman is said to bring sleep and good dreams to children.
* ''Myth/GreekMythology'': Endymion was a king whose handsomeness was (both figuratively in-universe and obviously literally out of it) the stuff of legend. In the end, the Goddess of the Moon, Selene ([[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness Artemis was not considered the Goddess of the Moon at this time]]) was so attracted to his beauty that she had Zeus put him into an eternal slumber so that she could gaze upon his handsome face forever.
* Myth/ClassicalMythology has Hypnos/Somnus, the god of sleep. His children are the gods of dreams.
* In Myth/HinduMythology, Kumbhakarna was a demon who was granted one boon from the god Brahma; distracted by the goddess Saraswati, he accidentally asked to sleep.[[note]]Depending on the telling, he was either going to ask for ''Indraasana,'' "the seat of [[TopGod Indra]]," only to say ''Nidraasana,'' "bed of sleeping"; or he meant to say ''Nirdevatvam,'' "destruction of the gods," and instead said ''Nidravatvam,'' "sleep."[[/note]] Brahma, being a LiteralGenie, made him rest for six months at a time, after which he would briefly rouse himself and [[BigEater eat everything]] ([[ImAHumanitarian or anyone]]) in sight.
* Myth/CelticMythology:
** The hero Finn [=MacCool=] is challenged to stop Aillen, a supernatural figure who lulls everyone to sleep with MagicMusic and then burns the king's palace to the ground. Finn manages to stay awake by pressing his magically-hot spear to his forehead.
** This happens to Cú Chulainn twice. As a boy, he's being trained by Scáthach, who has to do battle with her rival/sister, Aífe; worried that Cú Chulainn will jump into the fight and get hurt, she gives him a sleeping potion, but being a demigod, it only knocks him out for an hour instead of a day. Years later he is injured during the Cattle Raid of Cooley and put in a magic sleep by his father, the god Lugh, during which time Lugh heals his wounds. Unfortunately, many of Cú Chulainn's young friends die during this time, so when he wakes up he [[HulkingOut warp spasms]] and goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.
* ''Literature/TheBible'': In the Literature/BookOfGenesis, this is done on Adam much in the way modern medicine would use general anaesthesia - God lets Adam fall into a deep sleep, so that one of Adam's bones can be extracted to clone Eve from it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** Spells
*** The wizard ''sleep'' spell puts opponents to sleep. It was a favorite of low-level casters in early editions because it allowed NoSavingThrow.
*** The cleric/priest spell ''symbol'' has a Sleep variant that sends multiple opponents to slumberland.
** Monsters
*** Some creatures have breath weapons consisting of sleep gas, such as the brass dragon (cone 70 feet long), moonstone dragon (cone 30 feet long) and kamadan (cone 30 feet long).
*** The bite of a homunculus causes its target to fall into a comatose sleep for from 5-30 minutes.
*** The gaze of a jackalwere makes its victim fall asleep.
*** Certain monsters have the innate ability to cast the ''sleep'' spell, such as ice lizards, night hags, ogre magi and the slaad lord Ygorl.
*** Pixie, sprite and hybsil arrows cause the target to sleep for 1-6 hours.
*** A satyr can use its pipe to play a tune and put other creatures to sleep.
*** The sussurrus gives off a "dronesong" that could put undead to sleep (despite them normally being immune to such effects).
*** In Module [=IM3=] ''The Immortal Storm'', while in a technological plane where their magical powers are suppressed, when the Immortals use a direct Power attack on mortals, it puts the mortals into a comatose sleep for several minutes.
*** Any creature coming within 20 feet of a sandman must make a saving throw or fall asleep for 30-130 minutes.
*** The Brood Gibberling can infect another creature with a burrowing gibberslug by biting or [[SuperSpit spitting at it]]. When the burrowing gibberslug reaches the brain it will put the victim in a sleep from which they can't be awakened and cause them to suffer from horrible nightmares.
** The alternate magic system ''TabletopGame/SpheresOfPower'' has this as a talent in the Mind sphere, but it's not as much as a GameBreaker as its ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' equivalent.
* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay'': Several spells force their targets into unshakable sleep for a few rounds if they fail a Will Power test, leaving them helpless. The Petty Magic version works by touch, whereas [[ReligionIsMagic priests]] of Morr, GodOfTheDead and of Dreams, learn a version with a large AreaOfEffect.
-->''This miracle is often used to calm the bereaved. Particularly the noisy ones.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* In ''Theatre/LOrfeo'', when diplomacy and flattery fails to sway Charon, Orpheus sings him to sleep and hijacks the ferry.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Arknights}}'':
** Sleep is a debuff that causes the affected enemies to stop all actions for its duration, but also prevent them from being attacked by all but a select few operators. Notable sleep users in the game at the time of writing include Blemishine (who [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown notably deals more damage to sleeping enemies]]), Blacknight (her summon prioritizes sleeping enemies), Sora, Iris and Kafka.
** Nine [[spoiler:who steps up to lead the Reunion Movement in Chapter 9]] has this as her specialty Originium Arts.
* ''VideoGame/CastleOfTheWinds'': The Scroll of Sleep causes the user to fall asleep. The Scroll of Make Sleep (i.e. to make ''someone else'' sleep) also exists in this world. The two do not advertise the difference.
* Seen in the backstory of the first ''VideoGame/DarkParables'' game, "Curse of Briar Rose." Once she [[Literature/SleepingBeauty fell into her magical coma]] from the Evil Godmother's curse, the princess's good godmothers joined forces to put everyone else in the castle into the same magic sleep. Along came the prince to kiss her and wake her up, but TrueLovesKiss failed. It woke up ''everyone else'' in the castle, but Briar Rose continued to sleep.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', the Architect uses magic to put the Warden and their party to sleep.
* The ''Franchise/DragonQuest'' series also features the spell, and in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'', a.k.a. ''Dragon Warrior'', it's the first of the really nasty spells that enemies will start using as you advance in level, necessitating the use of Stopspell to keep them from casting it.
* ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncientsAllStars'' and ''VideoGame/Dota2'':
** Bane can induce a Nightmare that leaves them unable to act. Nightmare expires when the target gets hit, but when someone directly autoattacks them (even teammates), it gets transferred to the attacker instead.
** Naga Siren's ultimate, Siren's Song, puts all nearby enemies to sleep over an extremely large area. It lasts a whopping 7 seconds, but sleeping enemies can't be attacked at all.
* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'': Sleep is a rather rare status effect that either stuns enemies until hit, or staggers them if they're bosses. Consumables that induce Sleep can be crafted by the player, and the weapons St. Trina's Torch and Sword of St. Trina cause Sleep buildup.
* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', the miasma within Nightcaller Temple kept both the devotees of the Daedric Prince [[NightmareWeaver Vaermina]] and an invading band of Orcs in a coma for several years.
* ''VideoGame/{{Elona}}'': The description for the Hypnotism feat explains that it's used to make people sleep:
--> Suddenly, you know how to make everyone sleep.
* Most ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games have a [[BlackMage Black Magic]] spell called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sleep]]. Early on in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'', the party has to save the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elven Prince]] from a Sleeping Beauty-type curse put on him by the Dark Elf king Astos.
* ''VideoGame/{{Folklore}}'' has a class of folk designed around sleep, which can send its victims into a temporary state of helplessness (though only two folk actually occupy the class.) Ellen can gain a cloak in the Faery realm that makes her immune to it, and the effect is required to catch or defeat certain other folk later on.
* A multi-target spell in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'', represented by sheep falling all over the targets (but doesn't work that well). Several weapons have this as a side effect.
* In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'', Sleep is a type of crowd control similar to a stun, but its cancelled early if the target takes damage. It was first added with [[VideoGame/{{Overwatch}} Ana]]'s Sleep Dart, and later expanded by [[VideoGame/{{Diablo}} Deckard Cain]]'s [[NapInducingSpeak Stay Awhile And Listen]] and [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Mal'Ganis]]' Night Rush.
* The plot of ''VideoGame/JadeCocoon'' is kicked off by the town being attacked by demonic locusts called the Onibubu that induce this in many of the townsfolk, leaving their bodies asleep and their souls wandering the netherrealm. You're forced to go into various forests searching for the Calabas Herb that will cure it. There is also the ancient kingdom of Gehena, which is now nothing more than crumbling ruins you find in the forests, which was also allegedly destroyed by an Onibubu attack.
* The recurring Noddy enemy in the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games forces Kirby to sleep if inhaled, making him [[PowerCopying Sleep Kirby.]] In most games, this is [[PoisonMushroom detrimental]] since it leaves Kirby open to being attacked so as a result, Noddy is normally placed as a hard-to-avoid obstacle or as ShmuckBait. In ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' though, the Sleep Ability can be used to restore health and its [[EvolvingAttack evolved form]] can also grant a status buff on top of extra healing.
* In ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', Zoe can put enemies to sleep using her ability called Sleepy Trouble Bubble.
* In ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue'', enemies can be put to sleep by Herbal Breeze (in the original) or Jean's Sleep Dance (in the remakes). While such abilities are [[UselessUsefulSpell practically useless]] in many [=RPGs=], one enemy in this game, Susie Death, is not only vulnerable to it but difficult or impossible to defeat otherwise.
* ''VideoGame/Onmyoji2016'' has the Dream Eater whose special skill is this. Sakura-no-sei can also cause enemies to fall asleep, but the chance is ''extremely'' slim.
** Equipping any ''shikigami'' with at least four ''Makuragaeshi''[[note]]a ''yōkai'' who hides in pillows and turns a person upside-down in bed as they sleeps[[/note]] ''[[RareCandy mitama]]'' allows them a 20% chance to do exactly this.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'', Ana can put enemies to sleep with her [[TranquillizerDart Sleep Dart]].
* A variant occurs in the NonStandardGameOver in ''VideoGame/Persona5 [[UpdatedRerelease Royal]]'' for failing to complete TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon on time. [[spoiler:MadScientist [[WellIntentionedExtremist Dr. Maruki]] comes to the conclusion that Joker/Ren was too overwhelmed to make a decision on whether to accept his WorldOfSilence or not, and grants him FreedomFromChoice in the form of [[FateWorseThanDeath removing his will to live]], turning him into an EmptyShell that [[DownerEnding wants nothing more than to spend all his time sleeping]].]]
* In ''VideoGame/Pikmin3'', [[spoiler:the Plasm Wraith]] was able to keep Olimar hostage on PNF-404 by manually triggering his spacesuit's auto-sleep function to prevent him from leaving.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Sleep is one of the five [[StatusInflictionAttack volatile status conditions]] in the mainline games. It acts as a stun that lasts between two and five turns, during which the target is totally vulnerable to attacks. However, most of the moves that [[PowerfulButInaccurate are guaranteed to cause it are inaccurate]], and the reverse also applies.
** There is only one move with 100% in both probability and accuracy that doesn't require very specific circumstances to use. That is Spore—Mushroom Spore in the original, which shows in that the only Pokémon that can learn it are mushroom Pokémon[[labelnote:Which?]]Paras and Parasect, Shroomish and Breloom, Foongus and Amoonguss, Morelull and Shiinotic, Toedscool and Toedscruel, and Brute Bonnet the Paradox Amoonguss[[/labelnote]]...and Smeargle. Even then, Grass-type Pokémon became immune to it in Gen VI.
*** The one other instance of 100% in probability and accuracy is Psycho Shift, which transfers any status condition that the user has to the opponent. Which, of course, means that the user has to be asleep and know Sleep Talk, ''and'' get lucky in that Sleep Talk selects Psycho Shift. Oh, yeah, and let's not forget that that Dark-Types are immune.
** For other notable usages, Pokémon with the ability 'Effect Spore' have a chance of putting the attacking Pokémon to sleep, as well as paralyzing them or poisoning them. This same trifecta of probabilities also applies to G-Max Befuddle, the signature move of Gigantamax Butterfree in Gen VIII, and Dire Claw, the signature move of Sneasler.
** Hypno is the original example of a sleep-focused mon, carrying a pendulum and all, but was far from the only one in Gen I to use the potent combination of Hypnosis and Dream Eater.
** Darkrai is easily the best example of a sleep-focused mon, as his lore is forcing people into endless sleep and horrible nightmares. Its signature move, Dark Void, has low accuracy but targets all adjacent opponents in double or triple battles, and its signature Ability, Bad Dreams, robs all sleeping foes of 13% of their HP every turn.
* ''Videogame/{{Richman}}'' series has the Hibernation Card, which, when used, put every other opponent (or just one opponent in ''10'' and ''11'') to sleep and prevents them from taking any actions for a few turns. Other ways of making a character fall asleep also exist, such as chances where the character gets "extremely lazy" or unique character cards like Octopus Ink Card.
* In ''VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves'', the Music Box is a power-up that, after thrown, starts to play music that lulls all nearby guards to sleep.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', one of Princess Toadstool's spells is Sleepy Time, which involves a sheep bouncing on top of the enemy. If the d-pad is [[ActionCommands rotated quickly enough]], she can knock out the entire enemy party with a storm of sheep.
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'', Tear can induce sleep using the first [[MagicMusic Fonic Hymn]], Nightmare.
* ''VideoGame/{{Temtem}}'' has four non-damaging techniques that can inflict this: Hypnosis (single-target), Lullaby (both opponents), Relax (all Temtem on the battlefield), and Slow Down (in addition to lowering speed, if the user has a [[PsychicPowers Mental-type]] ally). [[BareFistedMonk Haito Uchi]] is a damaging technique that inflicts this, and so does [[GemstoneAssault Crystal Deluge]] if the user has a Mental ally. Narcoleptic Hit inflicts this on the user. In all cases, Mental-types are immune to the asleep status.
* ''VideoGame/TitanQuest'': Sleep infliction, such as with weapons enhanced by Fungoid Spores, which give at 20% chance of sleep for 5-10 seconds:
--> Fungoids emit this soporific purple power to render their victims defenseless.
* ''VideoGame/TwistedWonderland'':
** [[spoiler:Epel's]] unique magic encases a target in an impenetrable force field that protects them from all incoming attacks, but also renders them unconscious.
** [[spoiler:Malleus's]] unique magic puts all sentient creatures in its area of effect to sleep as long as he likes and allows him to control their dreams. The area of effect can cover ''an entire country'' and extend even larger.
* ''VideoGame/AVeryLongRopeToTheTopOfTheSky'': The Sleep spell:
--> Puts the enemy to sleep.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'', Equinox can put enemies to sleep in her Night version, using her second ability called Rest. There are also two other characters with the ability to put enemies to sleep, Ivara and Baruuk.
* "Sleep" in ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'' is a powerful Dreadlord spell when used correctly, as it keeps a single unit (including heroes) out of the fight for a long time[[note]]other unit-disabling spells and abilities cost more mana and last at most half as long as Sleep[[/note]] along with interrupting channeling spells. It can be interrupted by attacking the sleeper, but fortunately units will only do so if ordered to.
* ''VideoGame/WorkshopInTheIronwoodGrove'': Copper Dolls' Hypno Dances, which don't always work to make the target sleep, and as revealed later:
--> [Copper Dolls] were meant to be toys for children, not weapons. Their Hypno Dance ability was similarly benign, meant to help children go to sleep.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* The Sleep spell is used a couple of times in ''VisualNovel/TyrionCuthbertAttorneyOfTheArcane''. First, [[spoiler:to allow Eris into the Inquisition's dungeons so she can wipe out Redmond's memories]]. Second, to render [[spoiler:Pierce]] and Tyrion unconscious in the Prayer Room.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Crowshed}}'': Sheryl can do this by pointing at someone.
* The wizard Abraham from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' once possessed a single-use magic item that basically functioned as a sleep grenade, He was rather reluctant to use it due to its wide range, and the fact that he wasn't entirely sure that he could resist its effects.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', Ecosystems Unlimited has a remote control that does this to Florence.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Godslave}}'', when Turner prepares to hunt for Edith across the museum, he puts a guide who's seen too much to sleep by a spell.
* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': Dabbler has a sleep spell for non-lethally subduing criminals, though Vehemence can resist it. Halo also considers asking Dabbler to cast it on her during a bout of Adderall-induced insomnia, but finds that she's [[SexMagic busy]].
* Vriska from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has mind control powers, but they only work on [[RubberForeheadAliens her own species]]. The only thing she can do to humans is put them to sleep.
* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] and PlayedForLaughs in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0010.html this strip]] of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness Vaarsuvius]] appears to have used a ''sleep'' spell on a group of goblins, but they actually bored them to sleep with a WallOfText.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'': After initially dismissing Pesky Dust as useless, Ben finds that it can spray dust that forces the target to sleep, then manipulates their dreams.
* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog''. In, "The Sandman Sleeps," the Sandman is actually unable to sleep himself, so he decides to steal Muriel's sleeping sand to give to himself, causing Muriel to suffer from serious SleepDeprivation. As it turns out, Courage finds the Sandman's lost teddy bear, so he returns the sleeping sand to Muriel so she can sleep again herself.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': One episode has Oberon put the entire city of New York to sleep by shouting "SLEEP!"
* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'': Skeletor can do the same thing, as can Evil-Lyn.
* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'': [[HeroAntagonist Dib]] is woken up by the [[EnergyBeing Meekrob]], who give him powers and then cause him to go back to sleep by saying "Now rest." [[spoiler:Though technically [[AllJustADream none of this happened]]]].
* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' episode "Armor of the Gods" has Jade do this to Uncle, whom hasn't slept in days and is driving everyone crazy. She makes a chi potion and tricks Uncle into drinking it, and he's out like a light. The only problem is that they need Uncle to create a chi spell to banish the Earth demon Dai Gui, and Jade and Tohru cannot wake Uncle up.
* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'': Experiment 360 (Drowsy) is designed to make people fall into eternal sleep by just bleating at them and the only way to awaken the victim is [[WaterWakeUp to splash him or her with water.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': In "A Tale of Two Mice," Babbitt tries to hypnotize Ratstello into mustering the courage to face the kitchen cat.
-->'''Babbitt''': You are getting sleepy...\\
'''Ratstello:''' But I'm not sleepy, Babbitt.\\
'''Babbitt:''' '''''Yes you are!!''''' (''slaps Ratstello upside the head'') '''''Sleep!!! Sleep!!!'''''
* ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouseClubhouse'': "Sleeping Minnie" centers on Minnie accidentally picking one of the sleeping roses, causing her to fall asleep for an entire century. Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy have to find the golden harp so they can wake Minnie up from her hundred-year sleep.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyAndFriendsE58FlightToCloudCastle1 Flight to Cloud Castle]]", Ariel was placed in an enchanted sleep by her wizard father to keep from all but the most determined suitors, and can only be woken by TrueLovesKiss.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfSuperman'' episode "[[Recap/TheNewAdventuresOfSupermanS3E8 The Japanese Sandman]]" has an evil figure who can put people to sleep in seconds with magic sleep sand. Even Superman can't NoSell it. However, he does manage to fight off the effects long enough to spin the sand out of his eyes.
* ''WesternAnimation/PrepAndLanding'': Santa's elves carry bags of magic dust so that if the children wake up during present delivery, they can be put back to sleep very quickly.
* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'': The evil sorceress Shadow Weaver can conjure sleep mist that affects even She-Ra.
[[/folder]]
----
->''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E06TheUndead Oh, and by the way: SLEEEEEP!]]''