opiates

plural of opiate
as in narcotics
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

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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 opiates Summers’ blood tested positive for cocaine and opiates, according to Idaho State Police investigators. Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026 Naltrexone was effective in keeping most patients off of opiates, the study found. Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026 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 So far this year, alcohol has become EPICC’s leading referral category, followed by methamphetamine and opiates. Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither? Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026 Offering 99 percent accuracy for five different drugs, this drug test has exceptional sensitivity for detecting opiates in urine. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 The illicit love story between the money launderer and the fentanyl trafficker working together to shower New England with deadly opiates came crashing down under the weight of a multi-year federal investigation. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiates
narcotics
Noun
  • In her current role, Second Assistant District Attorney, Sprague supervises all homicides that occur in Plymouth County as well as all firearm and narcotics cases, according to her profile.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Deputies initially pulled over the 21-year-old Yuba City man for numerous vehicle code violations before discovering the narcotics during a search of his vehicle, the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026

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“Opiates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiates. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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