gateway drug
noun
: a drug (such as alcohol or marijuana) whose use is thought to lead to the use of and dependence on a harder drug (such as cocaine or heroin)
Examples of gateway drug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pry Bar/Crow Bar Craftsman Pry Bar My gateway drug to the prepper life was the above pry bar.
—
Meredith Woerner, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
The perfect gateway drug to historical romance, MacLean delivers fierce, feminist, fresh takes year after year.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2023
Elder proved a perfect introduction to the Tool show
Elder's opening set was a perfect gateway drug to Tool, setting the tone with a three-song performance that lasted nearly 30 minutes.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Feb. 2024
Ironically, the gateway drug was not a commercial film title but a fitness regimen, Jane Fonda’s Workout.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Apr. 2023
So the Stones were my gateway drug to all these incredible things.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Dec. 2023
Further Reading Have a Good Trip is a gateway drug to de-stigmatizing psychedelics
Personal tragedy struck in 2016.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Nov. 2023
This drugstore option was my gateway drug to making color photos.
—Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Read more: Best Men's Pants for Spring Lululemon ABC Classic-Fit Pant $128 at Lululemon Credit: Courtesy of Retailer Second to its underwear, the ABC Pant was, for many men, the gateway drug to the intoxicating world of Lululemon.
—Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 6 Mar. 2023
Meredith Woerner, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
The perfect gateway drug to historical romance, MacLean delivers fierce, feminist, fresh takes year after year.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2023
Elder proved a perfect introduction to the Tool show
Elder's opening set was a perfect gateway drug to Tool, setting the tone with a three-song performance that lasted nearly 30 minutes.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Feb. 2024
Ironically, the gateway drug was not a commercial film title but a fitness regimen, Jane Fonda’s Workout.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Apr. 2023
So the Stones were my gateway drug to all these incredible things.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Dec. 2023
Further Reading Have a Good Trip is a gateway drug to de-stigmatizing psychedelics
Personal tragedy struck in 2016.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Nov. 2023
This drugstore option was my gateway drug to making color photos.
—Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Read more: Best Men's Pants for Spring Lululemon ABC Classic-Fit Pant $128 at Lululemon Credit: Courtesy of Retailer Second to its underwear, the ABC Pant was, for many men, the gateway drug to the intoxicating world of Lululemon.
—Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 6 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gateway drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Gateway drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gateway%20drug. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
gateway drug
noun
gate·way drug
ˈgāt-ˌwā- 
: a drug (such as alcohol or marijuana) whose use is thought to lead to the use of and dependence on more dangerous, addicting substances (such as cocaine or heroin)
To end at the beginning, nicotine … is now considered a "gateway drug," as it commonly precedes and is comorbid with other substance use.—Donald A. Henderson, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Donald A. Henderson, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationLove words? Need even more definitions?
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