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
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sedative
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
In that sense, pregabalin (brand name Lyrica), which is used to treat nerve pain and is associated with sedative effects, is less common.
—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Chloral hydrate, a sedative, is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia and to relieve anxiety and induce sleep before surgery.
—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Adjective
McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, died after Aurora police put him in a neck hold and a paramedic injected him with an overdose of sedative ketamine.
—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
In that sense, pregabalin (brand name Lyrica), which is used to treat nerve pain and is associated with sedative effects, is less common.
—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
Melatonin is a timing tool, not a sedative, and won’t overcome a bright room or a noisy house on its own.
—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Chloral hydrate, a sedative, is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia and to relieve anxiety and induce sleep before surgery.
—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
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Audiences want a quiet, efficient, relaxing, fun, visually engaging, communal experience unavailable at home.
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Patio lights Having warm and inviting outdoor lighting can help set a relaxing evening mood.
Noun
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The worrisome drug withdrawal popping up in jails A powerful tranquilizer has started to accompany fentanyl in the country’s illicit opioid supply, and jails are struggling to handle the drug’s excruciating, complicated withdrawal symptoms.
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When Krem takes off in Kara’s spacecraft, a rusted hulk that’s like an interplanetary RV, and shoots her beloved dog Krypto with a lethal tranquilizer that will result in agonizing death in three days, Kara joins Ruthye on her revenge quest.
Adjective
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The space has a dramatic 28-foot Palladian rotunda, a saltwater soaking tub, a sauna, a steam room and a wall of water that creates a soothing, flowing sound.
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That leaves us with smart solutions and savvy helpers that are specifically designed to minimize the heat, remove stuffiness, and provide soothing, cooling relief.
Noun
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But the 7-OH industry has organized against the potential prohibition, claiming 7-OH is kratom, despite only appearing in trace amounts within the leaves of the kratom plant, and that its benefits as an analgesic outweigh its potential harms.
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Across all participants, 81% reduced their use of oral analgesics, and the suppository was well-tolerated, with most participants willing to use it again.
Adjective
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Sora is all about cooking to preserve memories, especially those of his late mother, believing food should be both comforting and refined.
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One of the daily specials, a creamy risotto accented with a bold red pepper puree and blackened shrimp, caught my eye and satisfied my cravings for something comforting.
Adjective
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There’s something hypnotic and ritualistic in it, something that can become almost shamanic, almost therapeutic — like a sound bath.
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Instrumental rock music of the kind Horse Lords make—hypnotic, hyper-focused, complex—usually carries a whiff of manifesto, offering a map toward transcendence of some political, metaphysical, or pick-your-variety kind.
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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