opiate

noun opi·ate \ ˈō-pē-ət , -ˌāt \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 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

Prescription painkillers have been blamed as a major cause of the heroin and opiate epidemic gripping Harford County, the state and the nation.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Rise Dispensary in Joppa opens to patients Friday," 27 Apr. 2018
At the same time further light on the opiate epidemic will hopefully help the fight to save lives.

— hilary weaver, Vanities, "Prince’s Heirs Are Suing Medical Providers in His Death," 24 Apr. 2018
Enough doses of opiates were prescribed in South Dakota in 2015 to medicate every single South Dakotan adult 24 hours a day for 19 days straight according to the South Dakota Opioid Strategic Abuse Plan.

— ruth hopkins, Teen Vogue, "Native American Tribes Are Suing the Opioid Industry As People Continue to Die," 13 Apr. 2018
America’s opiate epidemic is affecting children at rapidly increasing levels.

— Philly.com, "How opiates are harming America's children," 15 Mar. 2018
Ohio faces enormous fiscal challenges brought on by Obamacare expansion and the opiate epidemic.

— jason williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX column: Don't expect 'Prince Richard' to become 'Rude Richard' in Ohio governor's race," 9 Mar. 2018
Fentanyl is the same opiate that killed Prince in April and Tom Petty in October.

— karen mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "Shiloh Child Star Blake Heron's Death Ruled an Accidental Drug Overdose: Report," 8 Feb. 2018
Naloxone, also known under the brand name Narcan, can treat overdose symptoms and help prevent an opiate overdose.

— jennifer conn, akron reporter, cleveland.com, "Summa Health offers naloxone without a prescription at Akron and Barberton campuses," 1 May 2018
Workers in the region also showed increase use of amphetamines, cocaine and opiates grew between 2012 and 2016, according to Quest.

— grace schneider, The Courier-Journal, "Sen. McConnell's bill takes aim at ravages of opioid epidemic on the workforce," 24 Apr. 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

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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

The Nebraska State Patrol seized 118 pounds of fentanyl in April, making it the largest seizure of the opiate drug in the state's history.

— joel shannon, USA TODAY, "Near a Nebraska town, cops seize enough opioids to kill over 26 million," 26 May 2018
The Obama Foundation Fellowship selected Kang to keep up his civic engagement by building a comprehensive continuum of care for those with opiate addiction.

— terry demio, Cincinnati.com, "'There is hope.' Mercy Health psychologist gets Obama fellowship for addiction work," 24 Apr. 2018
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

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