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date-rape drug
noun
variants
or date rape drug
: a drug (such as GHB or ketamine) placed secretly usually in the drink or food of a potential victim to induce a state (such as confusion, physical weakness, or unconsciousness) that makes the victim vulnerable to sexual assault and especially rape
Examples of date-rape drug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The city began distributing date-rape drug test kits Monday to venues that serve alcohol and to some patrons.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022
After anecdotal concerns about a spate of druggings in West Hollywood, the city began distributing date-rape drug test kits to bars, restaurants, and other venues.
—Jamie Fiore Higgins, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2022
Coel plays Arabella Essiedu, a care-free Londoner whose life changes after her drink is spiked with a date-rape drug.
—Mark Kennedy, Star Tribune, 13 July 2021
The bill was amended to remove ketamine from the list; opponents said the chemical could be used as a date-rape drug.
—Justin Ray, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2021
Concerns were heightened by reports late last month that a lobbyist used a date-rape drug on a Capitol staffer during an off-site incident.
—Cayla Harris, San Antonio Express-News, 13 May 2021
In the spring of 2018, the board learned that a senior vice-president had prepared a lawsuit accusing a colleague of giving her a date-rape drug.
—Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2020
The University of New Mexico is handing out coasters to students that could detect date-rape drugs in drinks.
—Alexis Grace and Anika Myers Palm, CNN, 18 Oct. 2019
The University of New Mexico's Office of Substance Abuse Prevention is giving away coasters that could detect two of the most common date-rape drugs.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN, 18 Oct. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'date-rape drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1995, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near date-rape drug
Cite this Entry
“Date-rape drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/date-rape%20drug. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
Medical Definition
date-rape drug
noun
variants
or date rape drug
: a drug (as GHB or flunitrazepam) administered surreptitiously (as in a drink) to induce an unconscious or sedated state in a potential date rape victim
Legal Definition
date rape drug
noun
: a drug (as GHB) administered surreptitiously (as in a drink) to induce an unconscious or sedated state in a potential date rape victim
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