narcotic

noun

nar·cot·ic | \ när-ˈkä-tik

Definition of narcotic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

adjective

Definition of narcotic (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

Other Words from narcotic Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about narcotic

Keep scrolling for more

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

More than 50 people were reportedly been shot in May after authorities launched anti-narcotics raids. — Casey Quackenbush, Time, "Sri Lanka Will Start Hanging Its Drug Dealers to 'Replicate the Success of Philippines'," 12 July 2018 The state ended its probe after Purdue agreed to pay Florida $2 million to help fund a data system to monitor narcotics prescriptions. — Fred Schulte, Sun-Sentinel.com, "How America got hooked on the deadly drug OxyContin," 18 June 2018 But that same character bragged to Ulbricht about years of experience running online drug operations, giving Ulbricht the sense that his advisor was a seasoned veteran of the narcotics trade who'd long stayed ahead of the police. — Andy Greenberg, WIRED, "The Silk Road's Alleged Right-Hand Man Will Finally Face a US Court," 15 June 2018 The narcotics task force has arrested Menefee several times, authorities said. — Ruth Bruno, courant.com, "Manchester Police Arrest Men In Drug Bust; One With History Of Similar Arrests," 13 June 2018 From the sellers' point of view, fentanyl is a boon, narcotics agents say. — Terry Demio, Cincinnati.com, "Fentanyl deaths up 1,000% since 2013, so much so that even heroin's supply is dwarfed," 6 June 2018 The narcotics investigators asked for, and were granted, consent to search the apartment. — Carol Robinson, AL.com, "Birmingham man jailed on heroin, cocaine trafficking charges," 27 Apr. 2018 Raids on drug houses spread throughout Jefferson County over the past month have led to the arrests of four men and the seizure of more than a dozen weapons, as well as cash and narcotics. — Carol Robinson, AL.com, "'It's a dirty, nasty business': Sheriff Mike Hale talks opioids, criminal firepower," 27 Feb. 2018 In Bogota, Tillerson is expected to hear pleas from Colombian officials who worry that Washington is again defining relations through the prism of security and narcotics. — Tracy Wilkinson, latimes.com, "Tillerson leaves on mission to improve relations with Latin America," 31 Jan. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

One narcotic smuggler, however, shipped a large number of bales of merchandise bearing a low rate of duty, with a supply of drugs concealed in each. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "Rewind: What Guarding Uncle Sam's Borders Was Like in 1925," 11 Feb. 2019 Photo: Mike Shum/Frontline/WSJ When his head was cut open in a fight, the inmate said, Mr. Weber stitched him up at his house and gave him a bottle of narcotic pain medicine. — Gabe Johnson, WSJ, "A Pedophile Doctor Drew Suspicions for 21 Years. No One Stopped Him.," 8 Feb. 2019 In 2015, Julie Hamp, a Toyota Motor Corp. public relations executive, an American, was arrested on suspicion of importing oxycodone, a narcotic pain killer, into Japan. — Yuri Kageyama, The Seattle Times, "As Ghosn heads for Nissan exit, Renault merger hopes fade," 21 Nov. 2018 But deputies managed to take her into custody moments later and, during a search of the vehicle, discovered methamphetamine, prescription pills, narcotic equipment and several miscellaneous ID cards, police said. — Katherine Lam, Fox News, "Florida female felon's bloody mugshot the result of her head-on crash while fleeing cops, officials say," 19 July 2018 She was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, possession of marijuana and possession of narcotic paraphernalia. — Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, "Warren woman crashes truck doing donuts in Macy's parking lot," 2 Jan. 2018 Drug abuse, Broadview Road: During a March 9 traffic stop, police discovered a Cleveland woman was in possession of a felony narcotic. — John Benson, cleveland.com, "Cleveland shoplifters attempt to elude police: Parma Police Blotter," 15 Mar. 2018 The Drug Enforcement Administration must also soon stop classifying marijuana as a Schedule 1 narcotic, the same category as heroin. — John Boehner, WSJ, "Washington Needs to Legalize Cannabis," 4 Nov. 2018 He was convicted in 2003 of trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, delivery of a narcotic, reckless endangering and resisting arrest. — Fox News, "Paraplegic man killed by police; father faces drug charges," 29 Aug. 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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about narcotic

Dictionary Entries near narcotic

Statistics for narcotic

Last Updated

22 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for narcotic

The first known use of narcotic was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for narcotic

narcotic

noun

English Language Learners Definition of narcotic

: 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

See the full definition for narcotic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

narcotic

noun

nar·cot·ic | \ när-ˈkä-tik

Kids Definition of narcotic

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

Kids Definition of narcotic (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or being a narcotic narcotic drugs narcotic laws

narcotic

noun

nar·cot·ic | \ när-ˈkät-ik

Medical Definition of narcotic

(Entry 1 of 2)

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