sop·o·rif·ic
ˌsä-pə-ˈri-fik 
1
a
: causing or tending to cause sleep
soporific drugs
b
: tending to dull awareness or alertness
2
: of, relating to, or marked by sleepiness or lethargy
: a soporific agent
specifically
: hypnotic sense 1
Did you know?
Soporific comes from Latin sopor, which means "deep sleep." That root is related to somnus, the Latin word for "sleep." Despite its meaning, somnus has been active, giving English somnolence (sleepiness), somnambulism (sleepwalking), and many other "sleepy" words.
Examples of soporific in a Sentence
Adjective
the soporific heat of summer
this medication is soporific, so do not drive after taking it
Recent Examples on the Web
John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The YouTube search results have warped into an apparent AI breeding ground, crammed with hourlong mixes full of soporific dreck.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 2 July 2025
Prince Valiant Much of Spaceballs' plot kicks off when Daphne Zuniga's Princess Vespa runs away from her soporific betrothed, Prince Valium (the mighty Jim J. Bullock), at the altar.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 14 June 2025
Pritzker’s fighting words contrast with the soporific public statements coming from our universities.
—Luis A. Nunes Amaral, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for soporific
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Adjective
Whereas the Greek hero knew to avoid the Lotus-Eaters’ soporific drug, Rip drinks deeply of the enchanted Dutch liquor.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The YouTube search results have warped into an apparent AI breeding ground, crammed with hourlong mixes full of soporific dreck.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 2 July 2025
Prince Valiant Much of Spaceballs' plot kicks off when Daphne Zuniga's Princess Vespa runs away from her soporific betrothed, Prince Valium (the mighty Jim J. Bullock), at the altar.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 14 June 2025
Pritzker’s fighting words contrast with the soporific public statements coming from our universities.
—Luis A. Nunes Amaral, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for soporific
Cite this Entry
“Soporific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soporific. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
soporific
1 of 2 adjective
so·po·rif·ic
-ˈrif-ik
: causing or tending to cause sleep
soporific
2 of 2 noun
: a soporific agent (as a drug)
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