thiopental
noun
thio·pen·tal
ˌthī-ō-ˈpen-ˌtal 
-ˌtȯl
-ˌtȯl
: a barbiturate C11H18N2O2S used in the form of its sodium salt especially as an intravenous anesthetic compare pentothal
Examples of thiopental in a Sentence
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South Carolina and other states had in the past had difficulty obtaining some drugs for lethal injections, including sodium thiopental and pancuronium bromide, due to shortages.
—
Kristin Wright, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
States, then the federal government, turned to it when the European Union banned the export of sodium thiopental to prevent its use in executions.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024
In July 2015, the state tried to import sodium thiopental, which had been used to carry out executions but was no longer manufactured by companies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
—Jacques Billeaud, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Jan. 2023
The original three-drug protocol was developed by an Oklahoma state medical examiner and included the anesthetic sodium thiopental, a paralytic drug called pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride, which is supposed to stop the heart within minutes.
—Dana G. Smith, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2022
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Kristin Wright, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
States, then the federal government, turned to it when the European Union banned the export of sodium thiopental to prevent its use in executions.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024
In July 2015, the state tried to import sodium thiopental, which had been used to carry out executions but was no longer manufactured by companies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
—Jacques Billeaud, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Jan. 2023
The original three-drug protocol was developed by an Oklahoma state medical examiner and included the anesthetic sodium thiopental, a paralytic drug called pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride, which is supposed to stop the heart within minutes.
—Dana G. Smith, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for thiopental
Cite this Entry
“Thiopental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thiopental. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
thiopental
noun
thio·pen·tal
ˌthī-ō-ˈpen-ˌtal
-ˌtȯl
-ˌtȯl
: a barbiturate used in the form of its sodium salt C11H17N2NaO2S especially as an intravenous anesthetic see pentothal
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