performance-enhancing drug
noun
: a substance (such as an anabolic steroid, human growth hormone, or erythropoietin) that is used illicitly to improve athletic performance
In the United States, more than 1 million elite and recreational athletes use performance-enhancing drugs for muscle building purposes.—
Josiah D. Rich et al.
Josiah D. Rich et al.…33 of the 48 major and minor league players suspended by baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs since the start of 2006 were pitchers.—Sean Gregory
Sean GregoryRoger Bannister, the first person to run a subpar four-minute mile, said today he thought that increased use of blood testing could help curb the use of performance-enhancing drugs by track and field athletes.—The New York Times
—abbreviation PED
The New York TimesExamples of performance-enhancing drug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 30-year-old will be the first British swimmer to join the controversial event, which allows the athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs.
—Paras J. Haji, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Things continue to trend up for the bullpen after an, at times, difficult few months following José Alvarado’s 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drug use.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
It's also been boosted by the return of Jose Alvarado, who was suspended for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy and will be suspended again during a likely playoff run.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Many suspect Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs during his career to give him an advantage over his opponents.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
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Paras J. Haji, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Things continue to trend up for the bullpen after an, at times, difficult few months following José Alvarado’s 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drug use.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
It's also been boosted by the return of Jose Alvarado, who was suspended for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy and will be suspended again during a likely playoff run.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Many suspect Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs during his career to give him an advantage over his opponents.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
Cite this Entry
“Performance-enhancing drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/performance-enhancing%20drug. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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