opiate

1 of 2

noun

opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət How to pronounce opiate (audio) -ˌāt How to pronounce opiate (audio)
plural opiates
1
a
: an alkaloid drug (such as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 4a(1)), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use
b
: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (such as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (such as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid sense 1
… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.The Economist
Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.Nicholas T. Zervas

Note: The use of opiate for substances that bind to opiate receptors but are not opium derivatives is often considered technically incorrect. Such substances are more commonly referred to as opioids. The word opioid itself was originally used only for these substances, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural, synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate receptors and has morphine-like activity.

2
: something likened to a drug that induces rest or inaction or quiets uneasiness
Operatic music is an opiate that lowers our critical guard and allows us to entertain views that our good liberal selves would disavow were they presented in naked prose.Paul Robinson
… the novel's real drug is the opiate of nostalgia. Richard, narrating the events at a distance of ten years, is still too in love with the friends to look at them with an even faintly critical eye.Ruth Franklin

opiate

2 of 2

adjective

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

Noun 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 Adjective morphine is an opiate drug
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And yet with fentanyl, the drug naloxone, if administered quickly enough, can reverse the effects of opiates and save lives. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024 At other clinics, there are also rumors of staff members using opiates and benzos while working, and countless stories of patients in withdrawals being left to make their way home. Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2024
Adjective
The Wall Street Journal reported in May that the DOJ was investigating how Chinese organized crime groups and drug traffickers used TD Bank to launder money derived from the sale of the deadly opiate fentanyl in the United States. Dan Mangan, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2024 Elvis was a longtime opiate user, having also abused sleeping pills, antihistamines, barbiturates and, lastly, laxatives to treat intense constipation caused by his prescription-grade painkillers. Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for opiate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opiate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātum, from Latin opium opium + -ātum -ate entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātus "soporific," from Latin opium opium + -ātus -ate entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of opiate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near opiate

Cite this Entry

“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opiate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun
opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət How to pronounce opiate (audio)
-ˌāt
1
: a drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is made from opium, tends to cause sleep and relieve pain, and causes physical and psychological dependence and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use
broadly : opioid
2
: something restful or soothing
the opiate of sleep

opiate

2 of 2 adjective
1
a
: containing or mixed with opium
b
: of, relating to, or being an opiate
2
a
: causing sleep
b
: causing dullness or idleness

Medical Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun
opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət How to pronounce opiate (audio) -ˌāt How to pronounce opiate (audio)
1
: an alkaloid drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 1), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use
2
: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid
… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.The Economist
Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.Nicholas T. Zervas

Note: The use of opiate for substances that bind to opiate receptors but are not opium derivatives is often considered technically incorrect. Such substances are more commonly referred to as opioids. The word opioid itself was originally used only for these substances, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural, synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate receptors and has morphine-like activity.

opiate

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or being opium or an opium derivative
2
: of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate
opiate receptors

More from Merriam-Webster on opiate

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