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After bromine was discovered in 1827, chemists could not resist experimenting with the new element. It didn't take long before they found uses for its compounds, in particular potassium bromide, which was used as a sedative to treat everything from epilepsy to sleeplessness. By the 20th century, bromide was being used figuratively to apply to anything or anyone that might put one to sleep because of commonness or just plain dullness.
Examples of bromide in a Sentence
His speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together.
a newspaper editorial offering the timeworn bromide that people should settle their differences peacefully
Recent Examples on the Web
There is an outright rejection of bromides that would give us some conclusion of reassurance.
—
Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Blood testing showed a bromide level that was hundreds of times above normal.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
However, swapping out classic sodium chloride for sodium bromide is a solid way to give yourself acne, involuntary muscle spasms, and paranoid psychosis.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025
Bromism, or high levels of bromide, was considered after a lab report and consultation with poison control, the report said.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bromide
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Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Blood testing showed a bromide level that was hundreds of times above normal.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
However, swapping out classic sodium chloride for sodium bromide is a solid way to give yourself acne, involuntary muscle spasms, and paranoid psychosis.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025
Bromism, or high levels of bromide, was considered after a lab report and consultation with poison control, the report said.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bromide
Cite this Entry
“Bromide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bromide. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bromide
noun
bro·mide
ˈbrō-ˌmīd 
: any of various compounds of bromine with another element or a chemical group including some used as sedatives
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