fentanyl

noun fen·ta·nyl \ ˈfen-tə-ˌnil \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of fentanyl

: a synthetic opioid narcotic analgesic C₂₂H₂₈N₂O with pharmacological action similar to morphine that is administered transdermally as a skin patch and in the form of its citrate C₂₂H₂₈N₂O·C₆H₈O₇ is administered orally or parenterally (as by intravenous or epidural injection)

Recent Examples of fentanyl from the Web

Prince died April 21, 2016, of an accidental overdose on fentanyl.

— michael mcgough, sacbee, "Her mural of Prince earned worldwide attention in April. Now, her remix is almost done," 3 June 2018
Trone’s 24-year-old nephew died of a fentanyl overdose a few years ago.

— jeff barker, baltimoresun.com, "Open seat in Maryland's most competitive congressional district attracts large field of candidates," 2 June 2018
Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose on April 21, 2016.

— Fox News, "Prince's retreat in Turks and Caicos Islands up for sale," 29 May 2018
Until 2016, the lawsuit alleges, Madison was Insys's top prescribing doctor, accounting for 58 percent of Illinois's fentanyl prescriptions, the suit claims.

— bill myers, Chicago Reader, "Suburban opioid pill mill devastated our communities, leaders of ten Illinois towns say in lawsuit," 23 May 2018
Prince, who died just over two years ago of an accidental fentanyl overdose, was known for his revolutionary mastery of the electric guitar and his flamboyant stage presence.

— NBC News, "Auction of Prince's personal items tops predictions and draws devotees," 18 May 2018
The report didn't say whether Dodd may have been taking fentanyl for health reasons.

— CBS News, "Pilot in crash that killed Zimbabwean opposition leader had fentanyl in system, autopsy says," 11 May 2018
Nearly 11,000 drug seizures submitted to the state crime lab last year were meth — more than heroin, cocaine and fentanyl combined.

— beth warren, The Courier-Journal, "Meth, deadlier than ever, could be the 'next phase of drug epidemic'," 3 May 2018
Which means heroin and painkillers, including ultra-potent fentanyl, but also buprenorphine — a safer opioid doctors prescribe for patients who want to get clean.

— georgea kovanis, Detroit Free Press, "The tiniest addicts: How U.P. babies became part of opioid epidemic," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fentanyl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.