as in dependence
a physiological need for certain drugs
an addiction to heroin
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Recent Examples of addiction
Based on a true story, Clean Hands follows Kevin Simmers, a narcotics officer grappling with his 19-year-old daughter’s worsening opioid addiction.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Though both parents looked good on the outside, her father would go on to abandon the family and her mother sank into addiction.
—Holly Gleason, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Bradham's health-aware approach to soda was welcomed as the country was dealing with drug addiction on a wide scale, leading to the first national effort to treat it as a crisis with the passing of the Harrison Act in 1914.
—Ryan Wilusz, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Wu announced last Thursday that the state House of Representatives budget for next fiscal year will include $4 million to fund various city and state initiatives aimed at tackling homelessness, addiction, and related crime in the troubled area.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for addiction
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Though both parents looked good on the outside, her father would go on to abandon the family and her mother sank into addiction.
—Holly Gleason, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Bradham's health-aware approach to soda was welcomed as the country was dealing with drug addiction on a wide scale, leading to the first national effort to treat it as a crisis with the passing of the Harrison Act in 1914.
—Ryan Wilusz, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Wu announced last Thursday that the state House of Representatives budget for next fiscal year will include $4 million to fund various city and state initiatives aimed at tackling homelessness, addiction, and related crime in the troubled area.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for addiction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addiction
dependence
Noun
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The tariff threats that the White House has wielded globally hit particularly hard in Mexico, with its dependence on northbound commerce.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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France is less vulnerable than some other countries in the bloc because its nuclear program has reduced dependence on energy imports.—
Chris Wellisz,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Addiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addiction. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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