pentobarbital

noun

pen·​to·​bar·​bi·​tal ˌpen-tə-ˈbär-bə-ˌtȯl 

: a granular barbiturate C₁₁H₁₈N₂O₃ used especially in the form of its sodium or calcium salt as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic

Examples of pentobarbital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Biden administration had removed pentobarbital from the federal protocol over concerns about the potential for unnecessary pain and suffering. —Arkansas Online, 24 Apr. 2026

The Biden administration had previously put an indefinite moratorium on the use of pentobarbital and declined to impose the death penalty in many cases. —Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026

The report said that in the current Justice Department's view, the use of pentobarbital, the drug used for executions by injection, is not a violation of the Eighth Amendment. —Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

The protocol says that after the syringes of saline and pentobarbital are administered, a team leader signals to the warden and a five-minute waiting period begins. —ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

penta- + -o- + barbital

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pentobarbital

• barbital

Medical Definition

pentobarbital

noun

pen·​to·​bar·​bi·​tal ˌpent-ə-ˈbär-bə-ˌtȯl 

: a granular barbiturate used especially in the form of its sodium salt C₁₁H₁₇N₂NaO₃ or calcium salt (C₁₁H₁₇N₂O₃)₂Ca as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic