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
Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
All Florida executions are carried out via lethal injection if a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 30 Apr. 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
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
All Florida executions are carried out via lethal injection if a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
-
Vacations are exciting, relaxing, and a great way to disconnect, but nothing brings you back to reality faster than returning to a messy home.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
-
Fishing can be easy and relaxing.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
In the 1950s and ’60s, the tranquilizer Miltown was widely prescribed to housewives for anxiety and stress.—
Sarah Levy,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
-
On Tuesday afternoon, the bear was found on a private property and shot by a veterinarian with a tranquilizer gun, city official Ryuhei Irie said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Seapuri's Scalpy Bubble Tonic is a lightweight foam that delivers a cooling burst of relief thanks to a soothing blend of cica, panthenol, and menthol, while salicylic acid helps dissolve excess oil, flakes, and residue that can leave the scalp feeling congested.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
-
The sight of the lumbering actor wearing track clothes and sitting cross-legged while listening to a soothing relaxation tape on headphones is priceless.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Noun
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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.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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One approach to the treatment of pain, almost regardless of its cause, has gained both acceptance and notoriety: the use of opioids, or narcotic analgesics.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Easier than tomato pie, this drop biscuit-style savory cobbler makes a comforting summer supper.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
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So much for the comforting assumption that someone official is keeping a careful tally of the loans inside your fund.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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.—
Alma Rota,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
-
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.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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