as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
morphine is an opiate drug
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of opiate
Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Craig’s performance is big, sometimes explosively so, and requires not only affected charm, but also deep sadness, the physical turmoil of opiate withdrawal, and some bumbling in the jungle.
—Rich Juzwiak, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
According to federal experts, fentanyl can be made cheaply and in large quantities in labs, and is far more potent than natural opiates like heroin or morphine.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for opiate
Adjective
Thousands of inmates wrongly tested positive for opiate use inside California state prisons last year because of a laboratory mistake, and civil rights attorneys now worry many of them could be denied parole and a chance at freedom because of it.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Craig’s performance is big, sometimes explosively so, and requires not only affected charm, but also deep sadness, the physical turmoil of opiate withdrawal, and some bumbling in the jungle.
—Rich Juzwiak, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
The child tested positive for fentanyl and opiates, officials said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
According to federal experts, fentanyl can be made cheaply and in large quantities in labs, and is far more potent than natural opiates like heroin or morphine.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for opiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiate
Adjective
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The aquarium has been a pioneer from the start, unveiling the world’s first living kelp forest exhibit and debuting large-scale displays of jellyfish—hypnotic creatures that pulse rhythmically through the glowing blue waters.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Even so, as Jerry delivers his hokum, Offerman invests it with a hypnotic clarity, a sense that Jerry is trying to create a rational and just world — to create salvation — out of the irrational.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 July 2025
Noun
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This was when my mug shot was taken in a Chicago jail in 2002, after I had been arrested for felony possession of narcotics.—
Michael W. Clune,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
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Authorities notably seized narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant at Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles during the raids last year.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2025
Noun
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She was charged for intentionally distributing a drug called Tranq — a mix of Fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer Xylazine.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
7 July 2025
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The drug, which is commonly used as a tranquilizer for large animals in veterinary medicine, causes extreme sedation, slow breathing and skin ulcers when ingested by humans.—
Molly Gibbs,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
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When that had little effect, hospital staff gave him ketamine, an anesthetic used for surgery, and Estupinan was intubated for his safety.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
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Process: Medical abortions do not require the use of an anesthetic and are less invasive.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiate. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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