tranquilizer

noun

tran·​quil·​iz·​er ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈtran-

variants or less commonly tranquillizer

1

: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (such as anxiety and tension) compare antipsychotic

2

: one that tranquilizes

Examples of tranquilizer in a Sentence

a patient who is on tranquilizers

Recent Examples on the Web

After that, officials decided to use tranquilizer darts to take down the animals believed to be the three adults in the pack before euthanizing them. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Recent years, for example, have seen a major increase in adulteration with the horse tranquilizer xylazine, which knocks users out but doesn’t satisfy the opioid craving. —Charles Fain Lehman, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026

According to court records, a powerful animal tranquilizer known as BAM — a combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — was found in Suzanne's bone marrow. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026

After ambushing Fuller at her mansion, Teddy and his accomplice/cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) knock her unconscious with a tranquilizer and load her into the backseat of her own car. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for tranquilizer

• advertiser
• analyser
• analyzer
• appetizer
• atomizer
• breathalyzer
• colonizer
• crystallizer
• digitizer
• equalizer
• fertilizer
• localizer

Kids Definition

tranquilizer

noun

tran·​quil·​iz·​er

variants also tranquillizer

ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈtran-

: one that tranquilizes

especially : a drug used to reduce anxiety and nervous tension

Medical Definition

tranquilizer

noun

tran·​quil·​iz·​er

variants or chiefly British tranquillizer or tranquilliser

-ˌlī-zər 

: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (as anxiety and tension) see antipsychotic