: a sedative agent or drug
Examples of sedative in a Sentence
Adjective
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal
Noun
The patient was given a powerful sedative.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Tinker, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
In any case, chamomile flowers—which look like adorable, tiny daisies—contain flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins which certainly have mildly sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2024
Pamela Assid, Verywell Health, 21 July 2025
On top of this, older people are also more likely to take medications, such as diuretics or sedatives, that cause dehydration or further impact the body’s ability to sweat.789
Older adults are also more likely to have chronic diseases, which can worsen in extreme heat.
—Julia Ries, Health, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sedative
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Adjective
Saltz: Lorazepam is in the class of medications called benzodiazepines, which is a depressant, and also sometimes referred to as a sedative hypnotic medication.
—Ben Tinker, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
In any case, chamomile flowers—which look like adorable, tiny daisies—contain flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins which certainly have mildly sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
Opioids: Often used with sedatives to provide pain relief.
—Pamela Assid, Verywell Health, 21 July 2025
On top of this, older people are also more likely to take medications, such as diuretics or sedatives, that cause dehydration or further impact the body’s ability to sweat.789
Older adults are also more likely to have chronic diseases, which can worsen in extreme heat.
—Julia Ries, Health, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedative. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sedative
1 of 2 adjective
sed·a·tive
ˈsed-ət-iv 
: tending to calm or to ease tension
sedative
2 of 2 noun
: a sedative medicine
Medical Definition
sedative
1 of 2 adjective
sed·a·tive
ˈsed-ət-iv
: tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement
sedative effects of anesthetics and analgesics—Linda C. Haynes et al.
Linda C. Haynes et al.sedative
2 of 2 noun
: a sedative agent or drug
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