SEDATIVE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

sedative 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-də-tiv

Definition of sedative

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

sedative

2 of 2

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 sedative

Adjective

But the police also caution that many stories involving scopolamine verge on urban legend, and confirm that most criminals use other sedative drugs to manipulate their victims. — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026 Otto recommends families seek opinions from pediatricians, speech-language pathologists and ENT doctors before deciding on a frenectomy, following a recent Fort Worth procedure that ended in a 4-year-old girl’s death from a sedative overdose. — Star-Telegram Staff. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026

Noun

When Riechmann's mother was pregnant with her in the early 1960s, the doctor gave her a new sedative to help with her nausea. — Tana Weingartner, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026 As in Monster, Lizzie blamed some of her story inconsistencies on the morphine she’d been administered as a sedative. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sedative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative

Adjective

Amenities and experiences For those who want a relaxing break in between national park hikes and Colorado River rafting, head to the on-site massage cave for a calming treatment.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
What began as a sightseeing excursion remains one of the area’s most relaxing experiences.

— Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of relaxing

Noun

Authorities have issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces and are seeking to procure tranquilizer dart guns to support rangers in rural areas.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Her husband hurriedly shut the door and begged her to see a doctor for a tranquilizer prescription.

— Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of tranquilizer

Adjective

The noodles vibrate with heat, ricocheting between the prickly Sichuan pepper, hot garlic, chiles and soothing sesame.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
With a subtle and spa-like floral scent and a soothing, lightweight gel consistency, the cream also lends itself to a pleasantly sensorial application experience.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of soothing

Noun

The authors posit that people from that period sucked on betel nuts to relieve tooth pain, given that these populations are known to have had bad teeth and arecoline is a natural analgesic.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Unprocessed nuts likely offer milder effects, but arceoline remains a natural analgesic.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of analgesic

Adjective

The songs, decorations and rituals that once felt comforting can quietly tie themselves to painful experiences in your brain, which is why familiar cues sometimes trigger sadness instead of joy.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Maque Choux Easily made with fresh or frozen sweet corn, this creamy Creole dish is a fast, comforting weeknight dinner.

— Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of comforting

Adjective

Case in point, in that early-’10s resurgence, others returned to the source and cooked up a suite of stupefyingly hypnotic remixes.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026
Watch his hypnotic Instagram Reels, and you’ll be transfixed by his meticulous brushwork, application of delicate gold leaf, and detailed flourishes.

— Emma Jacobson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of hypnotic

Browse Nearby Words

sedating

sedative

sedatives

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“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of sedative

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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