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
Relevance
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
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
-
Alvarez’s arrest comes as federal authorities have dramatically expanded enforcement operations in the MacArthur Park area, carrying out gang sweeps, immigration operations and narcotics investigations that have frequently put Essayli at odds with city officials and advocacy groups.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
In June 2016, Mendez was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses, according to federal authorities.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opiates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiates. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
