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

During the search, the canine — who is trained to search for narcotics in addition to missing people — picked up the toddler's scent on a trail in a forested area and led authorities to him, per the social media post. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024

Between January and March 2022, Olson used her position as a nurse to steal narcotics from at least 50 new moms, officials said. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024

In 2019, he was convicted in the U.S. on 10 counts of narcotics trafficking and money laundering, and is now serving a life sentence. —Devin Sean Martin, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Kelly was arrested in 2020 on suspicion of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, but the case was dismissed due to the lack of a speedy trial. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024

McGriff also allegedly possessed narcotics and had a warrant for her arrest out of Santa Clara County, according to Central Marin police. —Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024

After dealing narcotics took over his life and eventually sent him to prison, Indianapolis street artist Michael 'Kwazar' Martin had ample time to think about his future. —The Indianapolis Star, 17 Mar. 2024

Abbott frequently claims the operation is successful, pointing to migrant arrests and seized illicit narcotics. —Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

Image For decades, the voracious American appetite for narcotics fueled the rise of vast criminal networks in Mexico, yet drugs were not historically consumed on a large scale in the country. —Natalie Kitroeff Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024

Adjective

There were suggestions, alluded to by Dylan in other songs, that the manager had a tendency to keep his clients in a state of narcotic dependency as well as financial uncertainty. —Andrew O’Hagan, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Rudimentary business tasks, like finding a bank or insurance provider, became more difficult, as federal narcotic laws prevent basic financial institutions from servicing marijuana companies. —Wesley Parnell, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024

As a result, police alleged Paluzzi obtained fentanyl Tuesday night and tried to poison the dog with the narcotic Wednesday afternoon. —Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 1 Feb. 2024

The 15-year-old died in February 2023 of a narcotic overdose and continues to be remembered by Patridge, 38, and her daughter Kirra, 7. —Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024

Bodies found inside and outside Palmdale house; deaths of 4 men under investigation Jan. 16, 2024 Sheriff’s officials said their initial investigation indicates there was narcotic use at the home. —Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2024

Garcia faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy to commit the sale of a narcotic substance. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2024

He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of violating his parole, burglary and narcotic possession. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024

The Lack of A Legal Cannabis Market One of the most significant aspects of the legalization is that removing cannabis from the narcotic list would simplify operations for both medical cannabis companies and patients. —Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024

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