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, 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

2a : 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

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

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 It is not immediately known how the narcotic was released. — Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2022 There is no question that fentanyl is a powerful narcotic and can be deadly. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2021 Despite warnings by defense attorneys, the Corrections Department used an experimental process using a Valium-like drug called midazolam in combination with a narcotic. — Jen Fifield, The Arizona Republic, 5 Aug. 2021 In the United States, Chinese-Americans protested the scent, objecting to the commodification of a narcotic that had caused China so much pain in the 19th century when, during the Opium Wars, Britain turned the powerful nation into one of addicts. — New York Times, 10 May 2021 Two people in Roseville died of apparent drug overdoses over 24 hours, leading police to warn the public about a dangerous new narcotic. — Katy Read, Star Tribune, 6 Feb. 2021 But others, who could make it through tough times until business resumes in a few months, are choosing consumer spending as a narcotic to get them through a bleak and lonely winter. — Terry Savage, chicagotribune.com, 31 Dec. 2020 Oh made multiple recommendations, including medications and specific doses, including a narcotic. — oregonlive, 15 Dec. 2020 Would the latter mean the student had possessed a narcotic in school? — Chad Calder | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 4 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Sigler was booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of one count of reckless manslaughter, one count of narcotic drug possession, and one count of drug paraphernalia possession, arrest documents stated. — Amaris Encinas, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2022 The woman admitted to taking a narcotic earlier in the day. — cleveland, 4 Mar. 2022 All-Star was accused of carrying cannabis oil in her luggage and smuggling a narcotic substance. — Analis Bailey, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2022 Rojas-Armenta pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit possession of dangerous drugs for sale (methamphetamine) and possession of a narcotic drug (cocaine) for sale in an amount over the statutory threshold. — Fox News, 23 Mar. 2022 Otherwise, it may be considered a narcotic drug by the authorities. — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2022 Griner, who plays in the Russian Premier league between WNBA seasons, was arrested at a Moscow-area airport after Russian officials accused her of carrying vape cartridges in her luggage that contained hashish oil, considered there to be a narcotic. — Ariana Garcia, Chron, 31 Mar. 2022 Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and player for the WBNA's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested in February at a Moscow airport and accused by Russian authorities of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance. — Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN, 23 Mar. 2022 She was arrested in a Moscow airport in February after vape cartridges containing a narcotic were allegedly found in her luggage. — Lisa Kim, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022 See More

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.

History and Etymology for narcotic

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

Learn More About narcotic

Dictionary Entries Near narcotic

narco-terrorism

narcotic

narcoticness

Statistics for narcotic

Last Updated

29 Mar 2022

Cite this Entry

“Narcotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narcotic. Accessed 16 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for narcotic

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

narcotic

adjective

Medical Definition of narcotic (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2a : 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