opiate 1 of 2

Definition of opiatenext

opiate

2 of 2

noun

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
Some researchers, concerned by reports of antidepressant withdrawal, suggest that the underlying mechanisms are similar to those faced by people suffering from alcohol and opiate withdrawal. David Cox, NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025 Taylor has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disease, and an opiate use disorder. Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
Noun
But Clarke is worried about patients losing out on things like steroid injections, which help manage pain without opiates or surgery. Jillian Taylor, StateImpact, 16 Jan. 2026 At the dawn of the 20th century, American medicines were often laced with alcohol, opiates, or narcotics. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for opiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiate
Adjective
  • It’s partitioned by a long, tiled bar along the left wall, situated behind the hearth and its surrounding oval counter and framed, aesthetically, by double Moroccan doors painted in hypnotic geometries.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The gunmetal details add an edgy contrast without dimming the base's hypnotic shine.
    Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The pair of Brooklyn North narcotics detectives involved in the clash thought the man matched the description of someone who had just made a drug sale, a police source said.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Duprey's death came as Duran and other narcotics officers were carrying out an undercover drug bust in the Bronx in 2023.
    CBS News, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In Ohio, the recent trend among people who use fentanyl is to find pills spiked with an animal tranquilizer that causes severe addiction, said Beckman, of the Hamilton County Quick Response Team.
    Kaitlin Coward, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
  • According to court records, a powerful animal tranquilizer known as BAM — a combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — was found in her bone marrow.
    Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office later attributed his death to an accidental overdose of ketamine, a hallucinogenic anesthetic that in recent years gained popularity as an off-label, unrelated treatment for depression.
    Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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