opiate 1 of 2

Definition of opiatenext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of opiate
Adjective
Later, the woman’s daughter was born with opiate dependence and had to stay in the hospital for several months after birth. — Adeline Goss, New Yorker, 11 June 2026 From the late nineteenth century into the twentieth century, most opiate addicts were middle- and upper-middle-class (white) women. — Literary Hub, 22 May 2026
Noun
Kratom helped Getz get work, build a life, and ultimately get off of opiates. — David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026 Because poppy seeds come from the same plant species used to produce opiates, consuming large amounts can sometimes lead to detectable levels of opiate compounds in urine tests. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for opiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiate
Adjective
  • Case in point, in that early-’10s resurgence, others returned to the source and cooked up a suite of stupefyingly hypnotic remixes.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Watch his hypnotic Instagram Reels, and you’ll be transfixed by his meticulous brushwork, application of delicate gold leaf, and detailed flourishes.
    — Emma Jacobson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors said Meiser smuggled the narcotics for inmates in exchange for cash and payments through Cash App, a digital wallet.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Some that are in narcotics or undercover cannot be on camera.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Authorities have issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces and are seeking to procure tranquilizer dart guns to support rangers in rural areas.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Her husband hurriedly shut the door and begged her to see a doctor for a tranquilizer prescription.
    — Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Depending on the surgery, those may include acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, opioid medications, local anesthetics, nerve blocks or other regional anesthesia techniques.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The day of the alleged assault, Newell and Ingalls began passing around ketamine, dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties, according to the lawsuit.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiate. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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