psychoactive

adjective

psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv 

: affecting the mind or behavior

psychoactive drugs

Examples of psychoactive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As marijuana continues to be legalized throughout the U.S., more products that look, smell, taste and feel like marijuana are popping in states where the psychoactive drug isn't officially legal. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

Infected periodical cicadas have been found to carry cathinone, a psychoactive compound that is chemically related to amphetamines, according to an October 2019 study published in Fungal Ecology. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

Perhaps the most compelling part of the study is the speculation surrounding why the Wari were using psychoactive drugs this way. —Rich Haridy, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2025

One method used to manipulate subjects was administering high doses of psychoactive drugs, including LSD, without consent. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing psychoactive

• non-psychoactive

Rhymes for psychoactive

• bioactive
• hyperactive
• interactive
• nonreactive
• overactive
• putrefactive
• retroactive
• unattractive
• unreactive
• vasoactive
• active
• tractive

Kids Definition

psychoactive

adjective

psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv 

: affecting the mind or behavior

psychoactive drugs

Medical Definition

psychoactive

adjective

psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv 

: affecting the mind or behavior

psychoactive drugs

THC is the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana