: a sedative agent or drug
Synonyms of sedative
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Adjective
Examples of sedative in a Sentence
Adjective
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal
Noun
The patient was given a powerful sedative.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
In that sense, pregabalin (brand name Lyrica), which is used to treat nerve pain and is associated with sedative effects, is less common.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
The pills look identical to real prescription sedatives, including Xanax, Percocet, and oxycodone, and are readily available across social media sites.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
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Adjective
Following the death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain, who in 2019 was stopped by police while walking home and injected by paramedics with a lethal dose of the sedative ketamine, the department entered into a consent decree with the Colorado Attorney General’s office.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
In that sense, pregabalin (brand name Lyrica), which is used to treat nerve pain and is associated with sedative effects, is less common.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
There are sedatives such as xylazine, street-named Tranq, an animal tranquilizer that can cause fleshrotting skin lesions and is frequently mixed with fentanyl.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
The pills look identical to real prescription sedatives, including Xanax, Percocet, and oxycodone, and are readily available across social media sites.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedative. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sedative
1 of 2 adjective
sed·a·tive
ˈsed-ət-iv 
: tending to calm or to ease tension
sedative
2 of 2 noun
: a sedative medicine
Medical Definition
sedative
1 of 2 adjective
sed·a·tive
ˈsed-ət-iv
: tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement
sedative effects of anesthetics and analgesics—Linda C. Haynes et al.
Linda C. Haynes et al.sedative
2 of 2 noun
: a sedative agent or drug
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