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

Example Sentences

a patient who is on tranquilizers

Recent Examples on the Web

Xylazine, sometimes called tranq, is an animal tranquilizer that can cause long-term bodily damage in humans. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2023

Xylazine is not for humans Different from ketamine, an animal tranquilizer also used – effectively – in human medicine, xylazine has not been approved by the FDA for human use. —Maria Morava, CNN, 17 Mar. 2023

The film takes place in a Mennonite colony where a series of horrific rapes has come to light, perpetrated by some of the men in the community against dozens of women and young girls, who were assaulted in their own beds after being drugged with a cattle tranquilizer. —A.o. Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2022

Xylazine is legal as a horse tranquilizer, but it’s not approved for human use. —Joseph Wilkinson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2023

Xylazine is a tranquilizer. —Joseph Friedman, Time, 6 Apr. 2022

The White House on Wednesday issued an unprecedented warning about xylazine, the veterinary tranquilizer increasingly found in the illicit opioid supply. —Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Apr. 2023

It is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use as a tranquilizer in veterinary medicine, typically in horses, but it is not approved for use in humans. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 12 Apr. 2023

This animal tranquilizer, used by veterinarians to sedate horses and cattle, is being added to fentanyl and other street drugs. —Candy Woodall, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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