narcotic

1 of 2

noun

nar·​cot·​ic när-ˈkä-tik 

1

a

: a drug (such as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions

b

: a drug (such as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether physiologically (see physiological) addictive and narcotic or not

2

: something that soothes, relieves, or lulls

a public comforted by the narcotic of military supremacy

narcotic

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: having the properties of, being, or yielding a narcotic

narcotic sedatives

narcotic coca leaves

arrested for the sale of narcotic drugs including heroin

… pills containing two common narcotic painkillers—hydrocodone and oxycodone—accounted for about 39 percent of drugs identified in criminal cases that involved prescription medications, according to statistics from the county Crime Laboratory.

—David Riley

b

: inducing mental lethargy or stupor

He's still serving up drama in empty, narcotic snippets—life as a series of sound bites.

—Owen Gleiberman

2

a

: of, involving, or concerned with narcotics : relating to the use of narcotics

narcotic arrests

narcotic addiction

narcotic enforcement bureaus

Narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia were located during the search at the residence on Sacramento Street.

—Stacey Adams

Naltrexone is a narcotic antagonist that prevents illicit drugs from binding to receptors in the brain without producing any high itself.

—Mike Clary

b

: produced by or as if by narcotics

mild narcotic effects

narcotic analgesia

… a square of melting chocolate on the tongue is so narcotic it instantly provides a traveler with a sense of well-being.

—Bert Greene

The somnolent atmosphere, typical of his last pictures, conveys a sense of an almost narcotic trance.

—Stephen Jones

3

: involving, affecting, or intended for people addicted to or dependent on narcotics

narcotic rehab programs

narcotic withdrawal

narcotically

när-ˈkä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• anesthetic
• anodyne
• opiate

Adjective

• calming
• comforting
• dreamy
• lulling
• pacifying
• quieting
• relaxing
• sedative
• soothing
• tranquilizing
• tranquillizing

Examples of narcotic in a Sentence

Noun

an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have done

Adjective

some therapists believe that certain scents can have a narcotic effect on people

the lecturer droned on in a narcotic monotone that eventually had the entire class struggling to stay awake

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her daughter was off narcotics within five days of leaving the hospital. —Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2023

Grant, who had been in custody on narcotics and gun violations, was captured several days later. —Eric Levenson, CNN, 8 Sep. 2023

Special counsel will seek another Hunter Biden indictment New charges could be filed this month in two cases against Hunter Biden — one over the alleged possession of a gun while using narcotics and a misdemeanor tax case — according to a new court filing. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2023

During the operation, the police said, Mr. Duprey sold narcotics to one of the officers, which prompted undercover and plainclothes officers nearby to move in to arrest him. —Nate Schweber, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2023

Last year, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court rejected a judicial review of the country’s narcotics law that would have paved the way for legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. —Rahmat Mirza, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023

Probable cause was found to search the car and a substance, believed to be narcotics, as well as drug paraphernalia was seized. —cleveland, 30 Aug. 2023

Members of the community drug units under the department’s vice and narcotics section now have body cameras too. —Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2023

Solomon said on top of that, uncertainty in Mexico surrounding an upcoming general election in 2024 and security concerns around narcotics and gangs there make U.S. homes a more stable investment. —Mitchell Parton, Dallas News, 17 Aug. 2023

Adjective

Baker uses Chaka Khan’s vocals to create a narcotic soundscape. —Craig Seymour, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023

The operation focused on the Third Avenue West area and was carried out by the Birmingham Police Department’s Crime Suppression Team, the Citywide Task Force and narcotic investigators. —Carol Robinson | [e-mail], al, 5 Sep. 2023

These include one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, one count of conspiracy to commit dealing in a narcotic drug and one count of possession of a narcotic drug. —Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 26 July 2023

The 72-year-old pleaded guilty in April to narcotic possession and distribution. —Luke Gentile, Washington Examiner, 25 July 2023

Jail officials administered Narcan — which is used to treat narcotic overdoses — and performed CPR, according to the statement. —Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 20 July 2023

Co-defendant Arthur Boyd is charged with several felonies including three counts of dealing in a narcotic drug. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2023

McGoldrick-Ruth said that members of the UA EMS team split into pairs and gave talks to fraternities during their Monday chapter meetings, explaining what drugs could bring about narcotic poisoning and how different drugs could be laced with opioids. —Nadia Cantú, AZCentral.com, 1 Jan. 2023

Other treatments can include:1 Medications: Medications such as acetaminophen or narcotic pain medicines may be prescribed to help with pain or muscle spasms. —Dr. Roshini Raj, Health, 9 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English nercotike, narkotyke, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French narcotique, borrowed from Medieval Latin narcōticus, noun derivative of narcōticus, adjective, "dulling the senses, inducing sleep" — more at narcotic entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French narcotique "(of a drug) dulling the senses, inducing sleep," borrowed from Medieval Latin narcōticus, borrowed from Greek narkōtikós, from narkō-, variant stem of narkoûn "to benumb, deaden" + -t-, verbal adjective suffix + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at narcosis

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

narcotic

1 of 2 noun

nar·​cot·​ic när-ˈkät-ik 

1

: a drug (as opium or morphine) that in small doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and causes sleep but in large doses has dangerous effects (as coma)

2

: something that soothes, relieves, or lulls

narcotic

2 of 2 adjective

1

: acting as or being the source of a narcotic

narcotic drugs

the opium poppy is a narcotic plant

2

: of or relating to narcotics or their use or control

narcotic laws

Medical Definition

narcotic

1 of 2 noun

nar·​cot·​ic när-ˈkät-ik 

1

: a drug (as codeine, methadone, or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions

2

: a drug (as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether in fact physiologically addictive and narcotic or not

narcotic

2 of 2 adjective

1

: having the properties of, being, or yielding a narcotic

narcotic analgesics

… pills containing two common narcotic painkillers—hydrocodone and oxycodone—accounted for about 39 percent of drugs identified in criminal cases that involved prescription medications, according to statistics from the county Crime Laboratory.

—David Riley, Rochester (New York) Democrat and Chronicle

heroin and other illicit narcotic drugs

2

a

: of, involving, or concerned with narcotics : relating to the use of narcotics

narcotic addiction

Naltrexone is a narcotic antagonist that prevents illicit drugs from binding to receptors in the brain without producing any high itself.

—Mike Clary, The Los Angeles Times

b

: produced by narcotics

narcotic analgesia

3

: involving, affecting, or intended for people addicted to or dependent on narcotics

narcotic rehab programs

narcotic withdrawal