narcotic

noun nar·cot·ic \ när-ˈkä-tik \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

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

See narcotic defined for English-language learners

See narcotic defined for kids

Examples of narcotic in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of narcotic from the Web

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto declined to release the names of the four plainclothes narcotics detectives involved in the arrest.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "A Black Man Died During an Arrest in Louisiana; A Local Coroner Has Ruled the Death as Homicide by ‘Asphyxia’," 15 May 2018
The caller reportedly requested paramedics and said a relative was becoming violent and may be on narcotics, according to the release.

— gary warth, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Man who died in custody identified," 24 Apr. 2018
Police said the assault was related to narcotics and through the course of the investigation police identified Marrera, Bones and Davila as suspects.

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Hartford Women Charged With Brutal Assault On Female Victim," 18 Apr. 2018
Perhaps the work has lost its sting over the years and the message has been somewhat muted, but Tuesday’s vibrant performance drew you in as the hapless protagonist succumbed to the lure of narcotics.

— allan ulrich, San Francisco Chronicle, "Ailey dancers strike gold in annual UC visit," 11 Apr. 2018
The report said air missions resulted in the spotting of some 900 unauthorized border crossers and the seizure of more than 9,000 pounds of narcotics.

— rafael carranza, azcentral, "Ducey supports Trump's call to send Arizona National Guard troops to border," 4 Apr. 2018
The package was turned over to narcotics, according to police.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Valpak randomly putting $100 checks in some envelopes," 30 Mar. 2018
Melvin Smith, a former federal narcotics agent, did not respond to calls for comment in 2014, or when the Free Press reached out last week.

— allie gross, Detroit Free Press, "Teachers, students want answers after Old Redford Academy dismissals," 29 Mar. 2018
If there's a deeper psychiatric problem driving their pain, it might be addressed without resorting to addictive narcotics.

— dennis thompson, chicagotribune.com, "Certain teens more likely to get hooked on opioids," 16 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of narcotic

Middle English narkotik, from Middle French narcotique, from narcotique, adjective, from Medieval Latin narcoticus, from Greek narkōtikos, from narkoun to benumb, from narkē numbness — more at snare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

narcotic Synonyms

Synonyms

opiate;

Related Words

pacifier, palliative;

hypnotic, sedative, soporific, tranquilizer (also tranquillizer);

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

narcotic

adjective

1 a : having the properties of or yielding a narcotic

b : inducing mental lethargy

2 : of, induced by, or concerned with narcotics

3 : of, involving, or intended for narcotic addicts

—

narcotically

play \när-ˈkä-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of narcotic in a Sentence

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 of narcotic from the Web

Schultz, 29, of 170 ½ Charter Oak St., Manchester, was arrested Friday on charges of sale and possession of a narcotic substance and conspiracy.

— jesse leavenworth, courant.com, "Manchester Police: Man Charged With Selling "Friend" Heroin Before Fatal OD," 15 May 2018
Sometimes forgotten in the spiraling crisis of opiate abuse is a clinical fact about narcotic pain medications: Addiction is basically an unwanted side effect of drugs that are highly effective at blunting pain.

— melissa healy, Washington Post, "The story must be told.," 27 Apr. 2018
Two backpacks with amphetamine/methamphetamine and five items of drug/narcotic paraphernalia found, 1800 block Main Street.

— Ramona Sentinel, "Sheriff's Reports: April 15-23," 25 Apr. 2018
Sometimes forgotten in the spiraling U.S. crisis of opiate abuse is a clinical fact about narcotic pain medications: addiction is basically an unwanted side effect of drugs that are highly effective at blunting pain.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "This engineered painkiller works like an opioid but isn't addictive in animal tests," 24 Apr. 2018
The narcotic-themed nickname enters the dialogue on the eve of a nationally televised debate at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on Fox News Channel.

— peter doocy, Fox News, "West Virginia Senate hopefuls take center stage ahead of Fox News debate," 1 May 2018
If an opioid patient is caught trying save a dose, he or she might be taken off the opioid and given a non-narcotic alternative.

— kristina davis, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Weaning the county jail population off opioids," 23 Apr. 2018
Federal regulations now being drawn up require registration of hemp growers, and tentative proposals for preventing narcotic production are rather stringent.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "Back When We Thought Hemp Would Be a Billion-Dollar Crop," 20 Apr. 2018
If we could get cannabis descheduled as a federal Class I narcotic, then research in 50 states could go ahead.

— dan adams, BostonGlobe.com, "Bill Weld goes green," 16 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of narcotic

see ¹narcotic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1526

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

narcotic Synonyms

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

NARCOTIC Defined for English Language Learners

narcotic

noun

: a drug (such as cocaine, heroin, or marijuana) that affects the brain and that is usually dangerous and illegal
medical : a drug that is given to people in small amounts to make them sleep or feel less pain

NARCOTIC Defined for Kids

narcotic

noun nar·cot·ic \ när-ˈkä-tik \

: a drug that in small doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and brings on sleep but in larger doses has dangerous effects, that includes some (as morphine) that are used in medicine and others (as heroin) that are used illegally, and that often causes addiction

narcotic

adjective

: of, relating to, or being a narcotic

narcotic drugs

narcotic laws

Medical Dictionary

narcotic

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