diazepam

noun

di·​az·​e·​pam dī-ˈa-zə-ˌpam How to pronounce diazepam (audio)
: a tranquilizer C16H13ClN2O used especially to relieve anxiety and tension and as a muscle relaxant

Examples of diazepam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web More than half of the diazepam sheep then ate from the bucket. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2016 The latter two substances are used primarily as anti-anxiety drugs; diazepam is sold under the brand name Valium. Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024 Ryan’s lawyers stressed that one of three drugs found in Harris’s body — diazepam — comes in a pill form and was taken by Harris herself. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2024 In September 1974, two people off-roading on a fire road came upon the body of a person who was believed to have died three to five days earlier from accidental alcohol and diazepam intoxication, authorities said. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023 Schlicht’s body was found on Sept. 14, 1974, and his cause of death was originally ruled as accidental alcohol and diazepam intoxication, the sheriff’s department said. Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2023 In 1980, homicide investigators linked other deaths from alcohol and diazepam intoxication that occurred two years prior in Southern California, including Orange County, and the deaths were ruled homicides. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023 Two muscle relaxers, tizanidine and diazepam, have both antispastic and antispasmodic qualities. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 10 June 2023 To demonstrate the machine’s range, the MIT team produced four pharmaceuticals: diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl), diazepam (Valium), fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac), and the local anesthetic lidocaine hydrochloride. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diazepam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

benzodiazepine + -am (of unknown origin)

First Known Use

circa 1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diazepam was circa 1961

Dictionary Entries Near diazepam

Cite this Entry

“Diazepam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diazepam. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

diazepam

noun
di·​az·​e·​pam dī-ˈaz-ə-ˌpam How to pronounce diazepam (audio)
: a synthetic tranquilizer C16H13ClN2O used especially to relieve anxiety and tension and as a muscle relaxant see valium

More from Merriam-Webster on diazepam

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!