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
Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
All Florida executions are carried out by injecting a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 21 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
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
All Florida executions are carried out by injecting a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
-
Scape Park has exciting outdoor activities and points of interests to explore, such as zip lines, cenotes, and caverns, while El Dorado Water Park is the epitome of aquatic fun with more than 20 attractions, from high-speed slides to a relaxing wave pool, ideal for the whole family.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
Long flights feel noticeably more relaxing with somewhere to prop up tired feet.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
There are sedatives such as xylazine, street-named Tranq, an animal tranquilizer that can cause fleshrotting skin lesions and is frequently mixed with fentanyl.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The set comes in over 10 colors, including a summer-ready coral and soothing sage green.—
Better Homes & Gardens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
-
There’s a cosmic irony in referencing Yoshimura, whose soothing compositions were famously commissioned to accompany showrooms for model homes in Japan in the 1980s and have since become synonymous with domestic comfort.—
Harry Thorfinn-George,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Let your senses guide wise spending, and favor one durable tool that makes your routine feel comforting while still keeping you productive.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
Autumn brings crisp air, colorful foliage in the forests and arboretums, roaring fires, and comforting, warming dishes.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Hair follicle testing confirmed exposure to sedative-hypnotic drugs, but surveillance footage was destroyed after the hotel’s 30-day retention period elapsed before her preservation request could be honored.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 June 2026
-
His sustained concentration throughout the 70-minute performance was hypnotic.—
Thomas Rom,
ARTnews.com,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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