Definition of sedative
:tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement
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Examples of sedative in a Sentence
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal
Recent Examples of sedative from the Web
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The drink is made from a ground up root common to the South Pacific, and produces a (very) mild sedative effect.
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Neglect for Responsibilities Exacerbated by the drug’s sedative effects, an addict will often shirk important responsibilities.
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Neglect for Responsibilities Exacerbated by the drug’s sedative effects, an addict will often shirk important responsibilities.
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Polanski plied the girl with champagne and part of a sedative pill before raping her, according to grand jury transcripts.
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Polanski plied the girl with champagne and part of a sedative pill before raping her, according to grand jury transcripts.
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They were taken to a police station after officers found a sedative pill on one friend.
These 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.
Origin and Etymology of sedative
Middle English, alleviating pain, from Middle French sedatif, from Medieval Latin sedativus, from Latin sedatus
sedative Synonyms
Synonyms
calming, comforting, dreamy, lulling, narcotic, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing)Related Words
hypnotic, opiate; analgesic, anesthetic, anodyne, deadening, depressant, numbing; antianxiety, antidepressant, antidepression, antistressNear Antonyms
painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, unsettling, worrisome; energizing, invigorating, stimulant, stimulating; aggravating, annoying, bothersome, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, grating, harassing, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, troublesome, vexatious, vexingDefinition of sedative
:a sedative agent or drug
Examples of sedative in a Sentence
The patient was given a powerful sedative.
Recent Examples of sedative from the Web
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Shaw-Taylor and nine others accused of helping him are charged with selling prescriptions for Oxycodone and Alprazolam, a sedative for anxiety, for as much as $500 in cash.
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Having other addictions, to drugs like heroin, cocaine, sedatives or tranquilizers, also put people at higher risk of abusing opioids, as did having behavioral conditions such as depression.
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Mixing alcohol or certain other Rx drugs, especially sedatives, with opioids can be deadly.
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Phillips and other death row inmates unsuccessfully fought the state’s new execution method that includes a sedative, midazolam, used in some troubled executions in Ohio, Arkansas and Arizona.
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Fifteen pharmacology professors argued Monday a sedative used in the process is incapable of inducing unconsciousness.
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Of the lawyers that did answer those questions, 5.6 percent used cocaine, crack and stimulants; 5.6 percent used opioids; 10.2 percent used marijuana and hash; and nearly 16 percent used sedatives.
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McCarty sentenced Ammons to three years in jail for trafficking heroin and the power animal sedative carfentanil.
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Developed as a sedative for large animals, carfentanil is said to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times stronger than heroin.
These 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.
First Known Use of sedative
1797
SEDATIVE Defined for English Language Learners
sedative
noun
Definition of sedative for English Language Learners
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: a drug that calms or relaxes someone
SEDATIVE Defined for Kids
sedative
play
noun
sed·a·tive
\
ˈse-də-tiv
\
Definition of sedative for Students
:a medicine that calms or relaxes someone
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of sedative
:tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement
- sedative effects of anesthetics and analgesics
- —Linda C. Haynes et al
Learn More about sedative
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sedative Spanish Central: Translation of sedative Nglish: Translation of sedative for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sedative for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sedative
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