psychoactive

adjective

psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce psychoactive (audio)
: affecting the mind or behavior
psychoactive drugs

Examples of psychoactive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The problem of companies substituting hemp for marijuana dates to 2018, when Congress legalized hemp, a close cousin of marijuana that has only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound that makes people high. Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 15 May 2026 Kratom is an herbal extract derived from the leaves of an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, and is known for its psychoactive properties, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 Ibogaine comes from the West African plant, which has long been used for its psychoactive properties in the Bwiti spiritual tradition in Gabon. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026 Psilocybin is the main psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for psychoactive

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychoactive was in 1958

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Psychoactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychoactive. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

psychoactive

adjective
psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce psychoactive (audio)
: affecting the mind or behavior
psychoactive drugs

Medical Definition

psychoactive

adjective
psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce psychoactive (audio)
: affecting the mind or behavior
psychoactive drugs
THC is the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster