plural drugs
1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b
according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary (see formulary sense 3)
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
prescription drugs
drugs for treating high blood pressure
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illegal substance that causes addiction, habituation (see habituation sense 2b), or a marked change in consciousness
keeping teens off drugs
heroin and other hard drugs
3
: a commodity that is not salable or for which there is no demand (see demand entry 1 sense 3a)
—used in the phrase drug on the market
4
obsolete
: a substance used in dyeing or chemical operations
drugged; drugging; drugs
1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)
drugged against pain
3
: to lull or stupefy (someone) as if with a drug
… the kind of overly familiar music that delights most audiences and drugs most critics—
Time
Time4
: to add an illicit or intoxicating drug to (food or drink) usually surreptitiously
There's also very little violence in the movie. … The kidnapping is done by drugging the victim's drink.—Drew Zahn
Drew Zahn
: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect
drug
3 of 3dialectal past tense of drag
Synonyms
Examples of drug in a Sentence
Noun
a new drug used to treat people with high blood pressure
an experimental drug for the treatment of AIDS
Have you ever taken any illegal drugs?
I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs.
Verb
He looks like he's been drugged.
Someone could have drugged your drink.
Recent Examples on the WebDennis Harvey, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
The event comes the day after President Biden used his clemency authority to pardon 11 people who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses and commute the sentences of five others.
—Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
Almost all of those rulings were narrowed or overturned by the 1980s, paving the way for the escalation of drug penalties and militarization of drug enforcement under President Reagan and his successors.
—David Pozen, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024
April 4: One year in prison on charges of cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
That case has brought up questions around science and medicine, roping in Big Pharma, which is concerned about the possibility of courts overruling drug developers.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
After more than 40 years of struggling with drug addiction and homelessness, Barry Dupree has a distinct memory of a milestone in his recovery: casting a ballot in the 2020 election.
—Nick Corasaniti, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
This proximity worried parents who raised concerns at a February town hall meeting about the motel being a magnet for human trafficking, drug dealing and prostitution.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024
Zeta also reported that the police officers who stole the drugs colluded with members of the Arellano Félix cell.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Joi Dickerson-Neal accused Combs in a suit of drugging and raping her in 1991, recording the attack and then distributing the footage without her consent.
—Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
In an essay in 2020, Duffy wrote that she was drugged at a restaurant on her birthday and taken to a foreign country.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Jimmy Jenkins More than a dozen people have filed a lawsuit claiming they were collectively bilked out of more than $1 million after they were drugged at East Valley strip clubs.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
Joi Dickerson-Neal accused Combs in a lawsuit of drugging and raping her in 1991, recording the attack and then distributing the footage without her consent.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
During a crucial scene, Snoop is catatonic, tongue lolling out in distress after being drugged.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024
Embattled director Roman Polanski has been sued in a lawsuit accusing him of drugging and raping a minor in 1973.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024
That includes free tests – that come in the shape of cards – to test if your drink was drugged or spiked, and there will be more lifeguards and jet ski patrols on the beaches, as well as accessible Narcan – an opioid-overdose antidote – in each hotel and by lifeguards on the beach.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2024
Noun
The sourest note is struck by one firmly xenophobic white male resident (Emmanuel Bonami) who’s convinced everyone else is a drug kingpin.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
The event comes the day after President Biden used his clemency authority to pardon 11 people who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses and commute the sentences of five others.
—Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
Almost all of those rulings were narrowed or overturned by the 1980s, paving the way for the escalation of drug penalties and militarization of drug enforcement under President Reagan and his successors.
—David Pozen, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024
April 4: One year in prison on charges of cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
That case has brought up questions around science and medicine, roping in Big Pharma, which is concerned about the possibility of courts overruling drug developers.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
After more than 40 years of struggling with drug addiction and homelessness, Barry Dupree has a distinct memory of a milestone in his recovery: casting a ballot in the 2020 election.
—Nick Corasaniti, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
This proximity worried parents who raised concerns at a February town hall meeting about the motel being a magnet for human trafficking, drug dealing and prostitution.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024
Zeta also reported that the police officers who stole the drugs colluded with members of the Arellano Félix cell.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Verb
Among the various allegations put forward are reports of drugging and fascist group chats, slave labour and foot photograph farms, with the brand’s impenitent founder Stephan Marsan at its centre.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Joi Dickerson-Neal accused Combs in a suit of drugging and raping her in 1991, recording the attack and then distributing the footage without her consent.
—Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
In an essay in 2020, Duffy wrote that she was drugged at a restaurant on her birthday and taken to a foreign country.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Jimmy Jenkins More than a dozen people have filed a lawsuit claiming they were collectively bilked out of more than $1 million after they were drugged at East Valley strip clubs.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
Joi Dickerson-Neal accused Combs in a lawsuit of drugging and raping her in 1991, recording the attack and then distributing the footage without her consent.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
During a crucial scene, Snoop is catatonic, tongue lolling out in distress after being drugged.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024
Embattled director Roman Polanski has been sued in a lawsuit accusing him of drugging and raping a minor in 1973.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024
That includes free tests – that come in the shape of cards – to test if your drink was drugged or spiked, and there will be more lifeguards and jet ski patrols on the beaches, as well as accessible Narcan – an opioid-overdose antidote – in each hotel and by lifeguards on the beach.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to drug
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Cite this Entry
“Drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drug. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drug
1 of 2 noun1
: a substance used as a medicine or in making medicines
2
: something for which there is no demand
—used in the phrase drug on the market
3
: a usually illegal substance (as heroin, LSD, or cocaine) that affects bodily activities often in a harmful way and is taken for other than medical reasons
drug
2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging
1
: to affect or treat with a drug
especially
: to make dull or numb by a narcotic drug
2
: to lull or make dull or numb as if with a drug
Medical Definition
drug
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a substance used as a medication or in the preparation of medication
b
according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(1)
: a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary
(2)
: a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
(3)
: a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
(4)
: a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
2
: something and often an illicit substance that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness
drug
2 of 2 verb
drugged; drugging
1
: to affect (a person or animal) with a drug (see drug entry 1)
especially
: to stupefy (someone) by an intoxicating drug
2
: to administer a drug to (a person or animal)
: to take drugs especially for the intoxicating effect
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