sedative
adjective
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Definition of sedative
(Entry 1 of 2)
sedative
nounDefinition of sedative (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms for sedative
Synonyms: Adjective
calming, comforting, dreamy, lulling, narcotic, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing)
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Examples of sedative in a Sentence
Adjective
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening mealNoun
The patient was given a powerful sedative.Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The muddy-brown drink is made from the crushed roots of the kava plant and produces a mild sedative effect. — Dan Sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Kavasutra Kava Bar serves its libations with a side of sexism and transphobia that has social media enraged," 10 July 2018 And when mixed with other drugs, particularly opioids or alcohol, the sedative effects can be dangerous and even life-threatening. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Lena Dunham Says She's 6 Months Sober After Years of 'Misusing' Her Anti-Anxiety Medication," 30 Oct. 2018 But the flip side of swimming’s sedative virtues is that swimming is boring. — Frank Wilczek, WSJ, "Swimming on Atomic and Cosmic Levels," 9 Aug. 2018 However, the board banned him from performing or supervising surgery that requires sedative anesthesia in an office. — Cassie Cope, charlotteobserver, "Charlotte area doctor banned from surgeries with anesthesia after 'substandard' care," 11 June 2018 One of the vets leaned out with a dart gun to deliver a dose of M99, a sedative thousands of times stronger than morphine. — Jason Florio, Smithsonian, "The Dangerous Work of Relocating 5,000-Pound Rhinos," 22 May 2018 Drugs, too, but the sedative effects of most anti-motion pharmaceuticals are incompatible with making your livelihood at sea. — Malia Wollan, New York Times, "How to Overcome Seasickness," 2 Feb. 2018 Indica is generally sedative and can be used as a sleep aid. — Brad Branan, sacbee, "A beginner’s guide to buying recreational marijuana in California | The Sacramento Bee," 26 Dec. 2017 The principal obstacle, of course, is the controversy over midazolam, the sedative component of a drug cocktail that is supposed to put the subject into a state of unconscious painlessness at the time of death. — Jed S. Rakoff, Slate Magazine, "Can the Death Penalty Ever Be Implemented Justly?," 28 Apr. 2017Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Indeed, sleep experts say alcohol, despite its reputation as a sedative, has a negative effect on sleep quality. — Sumathi Reddy, WSJ, "The Dry January Effect," 1 Jan. 2019 According to research by the American Chemical Society, drinking a cup of Chamomile tea is associated with an increase in the body's production of a chemical called glycine, which relaxes the nerves and acts as a mild sedative. — Noelle Devoe, Seventeen, "9 Life-Changing Hacks to Help You Fall Asleep Faster," 16 Feb. 2016 Like many performers at the time, Elvis was a heavy user of a number of prescription medications including opiates, barbiturates, and sedatives. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "Inside the Enduring Mysteries of Elvis Presley's Death," 16 Mar. 2019 But critics of lethal injection say midazolam is too unreliable as a sedative and creates a risk of pain that violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. — Jacob Gershman, WSJ, "Tennessee Death-Row Inmates Demand Execution by Firing Squad," 6 Nov. 2018 Then there’s a group of medicines called benzodiazepines that can rapidly decrease panicky feelings by working as a sedative, the Mayo Clinic explains. — Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, "Is There a Difference Between an Anxiety Attack and a Panic Attack?," 12 Sep. 2018 According to modern lethal injection protocol, midazolam (a sedative) is the first of three drugs given to death row inmates. — Stavros Agorakis, Vox, "Tennessee death row inmates ask for electrocution over lethal injection. It’s a form of protest.," 3 Dec. 2018 Some research indicates this plant may have potential sedative and anxiety-reducing effects by increasing the neurotransmitter GABA. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "What You Need to Know About OTC Sleep Aids, According to Neurologists," 30 Jan. 2019 Following the rescue meant coming to appreciate cave geology, the dangers of cave diving, the risks of running out of oxygen in a cave, and the utility of sedatives in an emergency. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "10 science stories in 2018 that made us go, “Whoa, that’s awesome”," 18 Dec. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sedative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for sedative
sedative
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of sedative
See the full definition for sedative in the English Language Learners Dictionary
sedative
noun
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Kids Definition of sedative
sedative
adjective
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Medical Definition of sedative
(Entry 1 of 2)
sedative
nounMedical Definition of sedative (Entry 2 of 2)
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