as in opiates
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
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Recent Examples of narcotics
In Peter’s case, his work provides a neat cover for what appears to be a pretty serious dependence on cocaine and other narcotics.
—
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The investigation allegedly found that Canada, Coley and others orchestrated the street level distribution of narcotics through other members of the conspiracy, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Part of the movie is set in New York’s downtown clubland and Firstman uses all kinds of lingo to describe various narcotics.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 May 2026
As state enforcement weakens on both sides of the border, the cross-border fuel and narcotics smuggling networks that Baloch militants tax and target are likely to expand further.
—Amira Jadoon, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
One person has been arrested amid a narcotics investigation in Macomb County, Michigan.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Three Americans and two Chinese nationals were arrested in a joint operation of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the narcotics control bureau of China’s Public Security Ministry that spanned Florida, Nevada and the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Guangdong, state broadcaster CCTV said.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 11 May 2026
The arrests were on various charges, including affray, possession of narcotics, resisting without violence and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Tampa Police Department.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
The candidates also clashed over public safety, policing and city finances, including a law enforcement operation at MacArthur Park earlier Wednesday in which federal agents and police arrested at least 18 people and seized fentanyl and other narcotics as part of an ongoing crackdown in the area.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 May 2026
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The investigation allegedly found that Canada, Coley and others orchestrated the street level distribution of narcotics through other members of the conspiracy, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Part of the movie is set in New York’s downtown clubland and Firstman uses all kinds of lingo to describe various narcotics.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 May 2026
As state enforcement weakens on both sides of the border, the cross-border fuel and narcotics smuggling networks that Baloch militants tax and target are likely to expand further.
—Amira Jadoon, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
One person has been arrested amid a narcotics investigation in Macomb County, Michigan.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Three Americans and two Chinese nationals were arrested in a joint operation of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the narcotics control bureau of China’s Public Security Ministry that spanned Florida, Nevada and the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Guangdong, state broadcaster CCTV said.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 11 May 2026
The arrests were on various charges, including affray, possession of narcotics, resisting without violence and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Tampa Police Department.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
The candidates also clashed over public safety, policing and city finances, including a law enforcement operation at MacArthur Park earlier Wednesday in which federal agents and police arrested at least 18 people and seized fentanyl and other narcotics as part of an ongoing crackdown in the area.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narcotics
Noun
-
In 2020, O'Neal had a near-fatal stroke after overdosing on morphine, opiates and pain medication.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
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Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The patient wouldn’t have had the benefit of modern anesthetics, but archaeological traces at other sites suggest Neanderthals knew about medicinal plants like chamomile and yarrow, as well as antiseptics like birch tar.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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Injections of local anesthetics, such as Lidocaine, into the muscles or joints can reduce irritation, muscle spasms and abnormal nerve activities that result in pain.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narcotics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narcotics. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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