opiate

noun opi·ate \ ˈō-pē-ət , -ˌāt \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of opiate

1 a : a drug (such as morphine or codeine) containing or derived from opium and tending to induce sleep and alleviate pain; broadly : narcotic 1a

b : opioid 1

2 : something that induces rest or inaction or quiets uneasiness

regarded television as an opiate

See opiate defined for English-language learners

See opiate defined for kids

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

Many see television as an opiate of the masses.
a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people

Recent Examples of opiate from the Web

With so many lives lost to the opiate crisis, health-care workers naturally worry about the moms and babies in their care.

— maureen c. gilmer, Indianapolis Star, "Addicted to heroin, young mom begged hospital to help her and her baby girl," 5 Apr. 2018
The studies are the latest in a long line of research showing that marijuana availability is associated with reductions in opiate use and misuse.

— christopher ingraham, chicagotribune.com, "Two new studies show how marijuana can help fight the opioid epidemic," 2 Apr. 2018
Additionally, researchers found a 14.5 percent reduction in any opiate use in states operating legal marijuana dispensaries.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "Legalizing medical marijuana could help curb the opioid epidemic: report," 2 Apr. 2018
At the hospital, Jane prescribes herself opiates and settles into a fog of overwork.

— becca rothfeld, The New Republic, "J.G. Ballard’s Eerily Accurate Dystopias," 14 Mar. 2018
But more than that, widespread opiate use in Victorian America didn’t start with the patent medicines.

— jon kelvey, Smithsonian, "How Advertising Shaped the First Opioid Epidemic," 3 Apr. 2018
Several speakers said cannabis helped them stop using opiates and get their lives back in order.

— phil diehl, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oceanside OKs commercial medical cannabis cultivation," 29 Mar. 2018
This could mean starting with non-opiate medications, trigger point injections and Lidocaine patches placed right on the area of pain, or IV drips with Lidocaine.

— kelly david burke, Fox News, "Colorado hospitals find success in reducing opioid addiction," 27 Mar. 2018
The group has established workarounds, such as giving tablet forms of the opioids to patients who can swallow, using local anesthetics like nerve blocks and substituting opiates with acetaminophen, ketamine and muscle relaxants.

— pauline bartolone, CNN, "Opioid shortages leave US hospitals scrambling," 19 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of opiate

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

opiate Synonyms

Synonyms

narcotic;

Related Words

pacifier, palliative;

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

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

opiate

adjective

Definition of opiate

1 a : containing or mixed with opium

b : of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate

opiate receptors

2 a : inducing sleep : narcotic

b : causing dullness or inaction

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

morphine is an opiate drug

Recent Examples of opiate from the Web

Doctors often treat that condition with opiate medication, despite little evidence that opiates are actually effective for it.

— christopher ingraham, chicagotribune.com, "Two new studies show how marijuana can help fight the opioid epidemic," 2 Apr. 2018
The study was co-funded by Intelligent Fingerprinting, which makes a drug test that uses the sweat from fingerprints to test for cocaine, cannabis, and opiate use.

— emily price, Fortune, "You May Have Traces of Cocaine or Heroin on Your Fingertips Right Now," 22 Mar. 2018
More problematic is that some clinics, like Zong’s, offer a mix of services — treatment for both opiate addiction and pain.

— brian rinker, Washington Post, "A Battered Doctor, A Slain Patient And A Family’s Quest For Answers," 13 Mar. 2018
Opioid and opiate drugs bind to and activate opioid receptors in your brain, gut, and spinal cord.

— tessie castillo, SELF, "Here Are the Medications You Should Never Mix With Opioids," 6 Mar. 2018
Kirsch's announcement to designate someone to deal with opioid and opiate crimes came a day after charges were unsealed against a doctor at a Munster medical practice who allegedly over-prescribed painkillers to an undercover individual.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "Federal prosecutor named to focus on opioid crimes in Northwest Indiana," 23 Jan. 2018
People who have co-occurring mental health disorders, especially ones that require medication, or who use treatments such as methadone and buprenorphine for opiate use disorder don’t always feel welcome in the recovery community.

— zachary siegel, Slate Magazine, "Where Are the Opioid Recovery Activists?," 29 Oct. 2017
Tennessee logs more opiate prescriptions per capita than any state in the nation except West Virginia.

— natasha vaughn, USA TODAY, "Why state AGs are targeting drug companies over opioids," 19 Sep. 2017
Religion’s got nothing on comedy in terms of its opiate abilities.

— scott feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "Stephen Colbert Caps Comeback Year Hosting Emmys: "I Just Wanted to Do Jokes" (Q&A)," 11 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of opiate

1543

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

opiate Synonyms

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

OPIATE Defined for English Language Learners

opiate

noun

Definition of opiate for English Language Learners

: a drug (such as morphine or codeine) that is made from opium and that is used to reduce pain or cause sleep
: something that causes people to ignore problems and to relax instead of doing things that need to be done

Medical Dictionary

opiate

noun opi·ate \ ˈō-pē-ət , -ˌāt \

medical Definition of opiate

1 : a drug (as morphine, heroin, and codeine) containing or derived from opium and tending to induce sleep and to alleviate pain; broadly : narcotic 1

2 : opioid 1 —not used technically

opiate

adjective

medical Definition of opiate

1 : of, relating to, or being opium or an opium derivative

2 : of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate

opiate receptors

Learn More about opiate

See words that rhyme with opiate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for opiate Spanish Central: Translation of opiate Nglish: Translation of opiate for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about opiate

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up opiate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

opiate

Definition of opiate

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of opiate from the Web

First Known Use of opiate

opiate Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

opiate

Definition of opiate

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of opiate from the Web

First Known Use of opiate

opiate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

OPIATE Defined for English Language Learners

opiate

Definition of opiate for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

opiate

medical Definition of opiate

opiate

medical Definition of opiate

Learn More about opiate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

All the Hits

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes