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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Recent Examples of opiates
In 2020, O'Neal had a near-fatal stroke after overdosing on morphine, opiates and pain medication.
—
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 10 May 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
Two weeks prior, Francisco Manzo had started detoxing himself from opiates and was still experiencing symptoms of acute withdrawal syndrome and had not slept well, the attorney said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
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
One state’s level is so low, an Air Force pilot can fly with up to 400 times more opiates in their system.
—Lucas Waldron, ProPublica, 6 Jan. 2026
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 10 May 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
Two weeks prior, Francisco Manzo had started detoxing himself from opiates and was still experiencing symptoms of acute withdrawal syndrome and had not slept well, the attorney said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
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
One state’s level is so low, an Air Force pilot can fly with up to 400 times more opiates in their system.
—Lucas Waldron, ProPublica, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiates
narcotics
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Opiates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiates. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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