as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tranquilizer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sedative
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, alcohol has a calming, sedative effect because of its role as a nervous system depressant.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 6 Aug. 2025
Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2024
Her attorney also listed buspirone (an antianxiety drug), hydroxyzine (an antihistamine that is traditionally used for anxiety or insomina), and Ambien (a sedative-hypnotic).
—Jessica Bartlett, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Adjective
It was once used as an anticonvulsant and sedative, but today is primarily used for cleaning, manufacturing and agricultural purposes, according to the National Institutes of Health.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, alcohol has a calming, sedative effect because of its role as a nervous system depressant.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
In any case, chamomile flowers—which look like adorable, tiny daisies—contain flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins which certainly have mildly sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2024
Her attorney also listed buspirone (an antianxiety drug), hydroxyzine (an antihistamine that is traditionally used for anxiety or insomina), and Ambien (a sedative-hypnotic).
—Jessica Bartlett, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
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The researchers hypothesized that soft music has a relaxing effect, relieving the tension that makes carsickness worse, and joyful music might serve as distraction, activating the brain's reward systems.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The ground-floor Felice al Gabrielli Restaurant, K Lounge Bar, and 6,458-square-foot garden flow together to form ample space for dining and relaxing.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The program tests for various drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other opioids, as well as xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that authorities have warned is increasingly being found mixed in with other drugs.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Only when Teddy pins her down long enough to inject a tranquilizer is Michelle finally subdued.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Rana forces herself to create a soothing, familial tone.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
3 Sep. 2025
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The Office fans might find this generic workplace comedy soothing.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Its pill, called Tonyma, is a nonopioid analgesic designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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The drug breaks ground as the first and only in a category of non-opioid analgesics to treat fibromyalgia.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Pippa writes with such a comforting wit that her books are like a sweet treat in book format.—
Tessa Bailey,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
This Netflix romance is as comforting as a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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