recreational drug
noun
: a drug (such as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive
Examples of recreational drug in a Sentence
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Nitrous oxide also blocks certain neurotransmitters and triggers the release of endorphins, creating a lightheaded, euphoric sensation, hence its appeal as a recreational drug.
—
Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The third group are youth who occasionally use drugs for recreational/experimental activity or for staying alert while studying for examinations by mistakenly using counterfeit pills or recreational drugs laced with fentanyl that may result in OD or fatal OD.
—Dr. Yifrah Kaminer, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2025
But there’s more to the dark web than passwords and malware; there’s also a global trade in the most dangerous of recreational drugs.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Tangent The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Musk’s use of recreational drugs including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms and ketamine, concerned some executives and board members at his companies.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
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Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The third group are youth who occasionally use drugs for recreational/experimental activity or for staying alert while studying for examinations by mistakenly using counterfeit pills or recreational drugs laced with fentanyl that may result in OD or fatal OD.
—Dr. Yifrah Kaminer, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2025
But there’s more to the dark web than passwords and malware; there’s also a global trade in the most dangerous of recreational drugs.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Tangent The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Musk’s use of recreational drugs including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms and ketamine, concerned some executives and board members at his companies.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for recreational drug
Cite this Entry
“Recreational drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreational%20drug. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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recreational drug
noun
rec·re·a·tion·al drug
ˌrek-rē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl- 
: a drug (as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive
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