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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of opiates
That was my first experience with opiates.
—
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
These chemicals can be even more potent than other opiates and produce comparable hallucinogenic effects, increasing the desirability of the cut fentanyl on the market.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Boston Magazine reported that during her training she was ultimately dismissed for administering opiates without a doctor’s order and leaving her shift early.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
These chemicals can be even more potent than other opiates and produce comparable hallucinogenic effects, increasing the desirability of the cut fentanyl on the market.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Boston Magazine reported that during her training she was ultimately dismissed for administering opiates without a doctor’s order and leaving her shift early.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiates
narcotics
Noun
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Jailhouse records show that Smith was disciplined at least five times between 2010 and 2017 for infractions including self-mutilation, drug use and possession of narcotics or marijuana.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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According to one House Democrat, lawmakers were told the narcotics being targeted in the shipments were cocaine, not fentanyl.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opiates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiates. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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