Synonyms of narcotic

narcotic 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in relaxing

tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress

some therapists believe that certain scents can have a narcotic effect on people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relaxing
• tranquilizing
• soothing
• hypnotic
• comforting
• sedative
• calming
• quieting
• opiate
• dreamy
• anesthetic
• analgesic
• depressant
• lulling
• antidepressant
• deadening
• antianxiety
• anodyne
• pacifying
• numbing
• antidepression
• antistress

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• painful
• stressful
• tiresome
• troubling
• unsettling
• worrisome
• stimulant
• trying
• stimulating
• troublesome
• disturbing
• irritating
• annoying
• aggravating
• frustrating
• vexatious
• maddening
• irksome
• exasperating
• bothersome
• vexing
• energizing
• invigorating
• galling
• nettlesome
• grating
• harassing

2

as in hypnotic

tending to cause sleep

the lecturer droned on in a narcotic monotone that eventually had the entire class struggling to stay awake

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hypnotic
• opiate
• soporific
• soothing
• drowsy
• sleepy
• somnolent
• slumberous
• hypnotizing
• sedative
• depressant
• relaxant
• comforting
• somniferous
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• anesthetic
• analgesic
• dulling
• relaxing
• calming
• restful
• settling
• deadening
• stupefying
• numbing
• benumbing
• lulling
• anesthetizing
• mesmerizing
• pacifying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stimulant
• stimulating
• waking
• rousing
• arousing
• energizing
• bracing
• refreshing
• restorative
• stimulative
• stimulatory
• reviving
• awakening
• invigorating
• wakening

narcotic

2 of 2

noun

när-ˈkä-tik 

as in opiate

something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security

an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have done

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opiate
• tranquilizer
• anesthetic
• sedative
• hypnotic
• anodyne
• security blanket
• palliative
• soporific
• pacifier

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of narcotic

Adjective

Candidates for the mysterious narcotic plant eaten by Odysseus’s men in the land of the Lotus-Eaters include the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and the jujube (Ziziphus jujuba). — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026

The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Keith Johnson, was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony vandalism, felony burglary, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, possession of another person's identifying information and probation violation. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026

Noun

Everybody knows that those record companies were started with the sales of narcotics. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

On July 14, police recovered narcotics, including crack, heroin and fentanyl, during a raid of Spatola’s Manhattan home. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026