1
: any of various formerly used preparations of opium
2
: a tincture of opium
Examples of laudanum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When Wolfgang overdoses on laudanum, however, Anna Marie performed disguised as Wolfgang donning a dramatic red costume and face paint, captivating the court and drawing the envy of Mozart’s greatest rival, Antonio Salieri.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
One of the novel’s quietly devastating moments comes when Branwell, in the middle of one of his cycles of resolve, tells Emily he is done with laudanum and alcohol.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
There’s so much blood, her eye has been ripped out of the socket — the best Claire can do is cover up Amy’s face and give her as much laudanum as possible for the pain.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
The youngest brother, Benjamin, a laudanum addict is the black sheep of the family and his costumes are equally dark and rugged.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
In 19th-century Britain, the more fashionable way to ingest opium was to drink it in the form of laudanum.
—Sam Kelly, Time, 8 July 2025
Added to this, their brother Branwell, the only son and once the great hope of the family, had become addicted to both alcohol and laudanum after a disastrous love affair with a married woman.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
Months in the hospital were followed by years of dependence on laudanum and morphine.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Anderson renders her character’s slow descent into virtual penury and laudanum addiction a genuinely heartrending experience, and her late-in-the-film breakdown about her uselessness stands as one of the decade’s great acting feats.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
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John Hopewell, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
One of the novel’s quietly devastating moments comes when Branwell, in the middle of one of his cycles of resolve, tells Emily he is done with laudanum and alcohol.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
There’s so much blood, her eye has been ripped out of the socket — the best Claire can do is cover up Amy’s face and give her as much laudanum as possible for the pain.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
The youngest brother, Benjamin, a laudanum addict is the black sheep of the family and his costumes are equally dark and rugged.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
In 19th-century Britain, the more fashionable way to ingest opium was to drink it in the form of laudanum.
—Sam Kelly, Time, 8 July 2025
Added to this, their brother Branwell, the only son and once the great hope of the family, had become addicted to both alcohol and laudanum after a disastrous love affair with a married woman.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
Months in the hospital were followed by years of dependence on laudanum and morphine.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Anderson renders her character’s slow descent into virtual penury and laudanum addiction a genuinely heartrending experience, and her late-in-the-film breakdown about her uselessness stands as one of the decade’s great acting feats.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Laudanum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laudanum. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
laudanum
noun
lau·da·num
ˈlȯd-nəm 
-ᵊn-əm
: a formerly used preparation of opium
Medical Definition
laudanum
noun
lau·da·num
ˈlȯd-nəm, -ᵊn-əm
1
: any of various formerly used preparations of opium
2
: a tincture of opium
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