pentobarbital

noun

pen·​to·​bar·​bi·​tal ˌpen-tə-ˈbär-bə-ˌtȯl 

: a granular barbiturate C₁₁H₁₈N₂O₃ used especially in the form of its sodium or calcium salt as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic

Examples of pentobarbital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lawyers said Indiana purchased pentobarbital from a pharmacy that is under scrutiny by the state attorney general. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Pike, 50, survived after receiving two doses of pentobarbital and was hospitalized for days before eventually regaining consciousness. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Pike remained alive after being given two massive doses of pentobarbital, the drug Tennessee uses in lethal injections. — Jeffrey Collins, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026

Prison staff gave Pike two doses of pentobarbital, the drug used for lethal injections. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

penta- + -o- + barbital

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pentobarbital

• barbital

Medical Definition

pentobarbital

noun

pen·​to·​bar·​bi·​tal ˌpent-ə-ˈbär-bə-ˌtȯl 

: a granular barbiturate used especially in the form of its sodium salt C₁₁H₁₇N₂NaO₃ or calcium salt (C₁₁H₁₇N₂O₃)₂Ca as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic