Definition of soporific
1a : causing or tending to cause sleep soporific drugsb : tending to dull awareness or alertness
2 : of, relating to, or marked by sleepiness or lethargy
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Examples of soporific in a Sentence
the soporific heat of summer
this medication is soporific, so do not drive after taking it
Recent Examples of soporific from the Web
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Living in the shadow of nuclear annihilation, and having freshly returned from war, whites found their own culture anemic and soporific.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soporific.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
"It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is 'soporific.' I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit." In The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter, the children of Benjamin Bunny were very nearly done in by Mr. McGregor because they ate soporific lettuces that put them into a deep sleep. Their near fate can help you recall the history of soporific. The term traces to the Latin noun sopor, which means "deep sleep." (That root is related to somnus, the Latin word for sleep and the name of the Roman god of sleep.) French speakers used sopor as the basis of soporifique, which was probably the model for the English soporific.
Origin and Etymology of soporific
probably from French soporifique, from Latin sopor deep sleep; akin to Latin somnus sleep — more at somnolent
soporific
Definition of soporific
: a soporific agent; specifically : hypnotic 1
Recent Examples of soporific from the Web
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McConnell’s defeatism is both a soporific for the Right and a stimulant for the Left.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soporific.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of soporific
circa 1727
SOPORIFIC Defined for English Language Learners
soporific
playDefinition of soporific for English Language Learners
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: causing a person to become tired and ready to fall asleep
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of soporific
: causing or tending to cause sleep
soporific
Medical Definition of soporific
: a soporific agent (as a drug)
Learn More about soporific
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See words that rhyme with soporific Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for soporific Spanish Central: Translation of soporific Nglish: Translation of soporific for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of soporific for Arabic speakers
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