theobromine

theo·bro·mine | \ ˌthē-ə-ˈbrō-ˌmēn

How to pronounce theobromine (audio)

, -mən \

Definition of theobromine

: a bitter alkaloid C₇H₈N₄O₂ closely related to caffeine that occurs especially in cacao beans and has stimulant and diuretic properties

Examples of theobromine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Cacao is good for energy, mood, and stress—the chemical in it, theobromine, helps your brain and tastes amazing. — Irina Groushevaia, Bon Appétit, "Ginger Tea and Intention-Setting Get Brooklyn Chef Tara Thomas to Sleep," 18 Dec. 2019 Chocolate Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, a bit like caffeine, which, while tasty, is severely poisonous to cats and dogs. 2. — Htv National Desk, Houston Chronicle, "10 Christmas hazards all pet owners should be aware of," 12 Dec. 2019 Finally, there are a number of chemical compounds in cocoa, most notably the flavanols, caffeine, and a bitter alkaloid called theobromine. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Chocolate has an even earlier origin than we thought, new study finds," 29 Oct. 2018 The kicker is this drink’s concentration of theobromine, which is an alkaloid that acts similarly to caffeine (stimulating) but without the actual caffeine (or acidity) of coffee. — Rachelle Robinett, Bon Appetit, "7 Ways to Get the Healthy, Chocolatey Goodness of Cacao into Your Diet," 27 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'theobromine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

30 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Theobromine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theobromine. Accessed 19 Feb. 2020.

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