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

Like many newcomers, Bustillo went through a rotation at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, starting with the appellate division and then moving into narcotics. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2025

Not the first time Thursday’s speech was not the first time Kennedy had been upfront about his previous struggles with narcotics. —Sandy Mazza, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Arthur Boyd, 57, pleaded guilty in February to dealing in a narcotic drug. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025

She was given two years probation for each count, while two additional charges — a felony count of narcotic drug possession and misdemeanor count of drug paraphernalia possession — were dismissed. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for narcotic

• aprotic
• aquatic
• biotic
• chaotic
• cirrhotic
• despotic
• dichotic
• erotic
• euphotic
• exotic
• fibrotic
• hieratic

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