medicate

verb med·i·cate \ ˈme-də-ˌkāt \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of medicate

medicated; medicating

transitive verb

1 : to treat medicinally

2 : to impregnate with a medicinal substance

medicated soap

See medicate defined for English-language learners

Examples of medicate in a Sentence

The patient had been heavily medicated.

Recent Examples of medicate from the Web

His habit of self-medicating by getting furiously drunk is of no help to his ferocious temper.

— kenneth turan, latimes.com, "Australian western 'Sweet Country' spotlights race relations in the outback," 5 Apr. 2018
Two patients who died at Arbour Health System psychiatric hospitals were improperly medicated with numerous powerful drugs, according to a new report from an organization that investigated the deaths.

— liz kowalczyk, BostonGlobe.com, "Two who died in psychiatric hospitals were improperly medicated, report says," 5 Mar. 2018
Drowsy and medicated, Cachay was escorted to the room by an employee while Brooks filled out the paperwork.

— refinery29.com, "Like Father, Like Son: The Murder Of Sylvie Cachay At The Hands Of Nicholas Brooks," 26 Mar. 2018
The Mushroom Cure The Marsh presents Adam Strauss’s solo show following his vigilante psychopharmacology experiment medicating his OCD with psychedelics. 8 p.m. Fridays and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays through April 28. $20-$100.

— chronicle staff report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of March 25," 22 Mar. 2018
But despite her best efforts to medicate him into tranquility, Paul begins to uncover the systemic evil that underpins his ostensibly idyllic home.

— becca rothfeld, The New Republic, "J.G. Ballard’s Eerily Accurate Dystopias," 14 Mar. 2018
His caregiver noticed an abscess on his leg Friday and took him to the vet, who medicated him.

— christine clarridge, The Seattle Times, "The sad tale of Hawthorne the squirrel, a Seattle police sergeant and good intentions gone wrong," 2 Mar. 2018
In 2015, the CDC said, enough opioids were prescribed to medicate every American around the clock for three weeks.

— stephen koff, cleveland.com, "Senators want to limit opioid prescriptions to three days for many pain treatments," 27 Feb. 2018
An investigation found records were incomplete and failed to show the resident was properly medicated for the wound, DPH said.

— courant.com, "Beating, Medication Lapse At Nursing Homes Lead To State Fines," 26 Feb. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of medicate

Latin medicatus, past participle of medicare to heal, from medicus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1623

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MEDICATE Defined for English Language Learners

medicate

verb

Definition of medicate for English Language Learners

: to treat (a person or disease) with medicine and especially with drugs

MEDICATE Defined for Kids

medicate

verb med·i·cate \ ˈme-də-ˌkāt \

Definition of medicate for Students

medicated; medicating

1 : to treat with medicine

You should medicate your sore throat.

2 : to add medicinal material to

medicated soap

Medical Dictionary

medicate

transitive verb med·i·cate \ ˈmed-ə-ˌkāt \

medical Definition of medicate

medicated; medicating

1 : to treat medicinally

2 : to impregnate with a medicinal substance

medicated soap

Learn More about medicate

See words that rhyme with medicate Spanish Central: Translation of medicate Nglish: Translation of medicate for Spanish speakers

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medicate

Definition of medicate

Examples of medicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of medicate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of medicate

MEDICATE Defined for English Language Learners

medicate

Definition of medicate for English Language Learners

MEDICATE Defined for Kids

medicate

Definition of medicate for Students

Medical Dictionary

medicate

medical Definition of medicate

Learn More about medicate

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medicate

Definition of medicate

Examples of medicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of medicate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of medicate

MEDICATE Defined for English Language Learners

medicate

Definition of medicate for English Language Learners

MEDICATE Defined for Kids

medicate

Definition of medicate for Students

Medical Dictionary

medicate

medical Definition of medicate

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