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
In Ohio, the recent trend among people who use fentanyl is to find pills spiked with an animal tranquilizer that causes severe addiction, said Beckman, of the Hamilton County Quick Response Team.
—
Kaitlin Coward, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
According to court records, a powerful animal tranquilizer known as BAM — a combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — was found in her bone marrow.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
The powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl as well as the animal tranquilizers xylazine and medetomidine are pervasive in Philadelphia.
—Rachel French, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Those selling the drugs are replacing them with a less lethal, but very strong tranquilizer, called medetomidine, which results in severe withdrawal symptoms.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tranquilizer
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Kaitlin Coward, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
According to court records, a powerful animal tranquilizer known as BAM — a combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — was found in her bone marrow.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
The powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl as well as the animal tranquilizers xylazine and medetomidine are pervasive in Philadelphia.
—Rachel French, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Those selling the drugs are replacing them with a less lethal, but very strong tranquilizer, called medetomidine, which results in severe withdrawal symptoms.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tranquilizer
Cite this Entry
“Tranquilizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tranquilizer. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (as anxiety and tension) see antipsychotic
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