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
Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Depending on the dosage, consumption can cause stimulant effects in low dosages and sedative effects in high doses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2020.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The wrecked car was overturned with the nude model sleeping inside—playing dead with help from a mild sedative.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Adjective
Prescription medicines used to treat anxiety, including benzodiazepines, are also flagged due to their sedative effects.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Depending on the dosage, consumption can cause stimulant effects in low dosages and sedative effects in high doses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2020.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
The bitterness in chicories comes from the chemical compound lactucopicrin or intybin, which is their natural defense against disease and predators — and is also said to be a faint sedative and mild pain killer.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The wrecked car was overturned with the nude model sleeping inside—playing dead with help from a mild sedative.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
-
Velvet curtains flank the floor-to-ceiling windows for some earthy contrast, while a long sectional sofa invites you to spend a relaxing night sprawled out in front of the TV.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
30 May 2026
-
Serving as another integral room of your home, keeping your living room clutter-free is crucial for creating a relaxing atmosphere.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Naloxone, the ingredient in Narcan, is an antidote for opioid overdoses, but because xylazine is not an opioid, the emergency medicine only stops the effects of fentanyl, not the tranquilizer, making those who overdose more likely to have lethal repercussions.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 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
-
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
-
That palms-together, head-bobbing, smiling Thai service creates the most soothing, de-stressing atmosphere.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The formula also uses AnnonaSense, ceramides, glycerin and shea butter, among other soothing ingredients, to hydrate and retain moisture, while also working to help neutralize visible redness.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Bereaved individuals have often told me that hearing other people’s memories of the person who died can be deeply comforting.—
Julie Kaplow,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
The show's plot revolves around tropes that are intentionally comforting and formulaic—fake dating, jock meets girl next door, and opposites attract—and evidently, the styling follows suit.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The haunting and hypnotic story follows stepbrothers Niall (Mitchell Robertson as a teen, Jamie Bell as an adult) and Ruben (Stuart Campell as a teen, Gadd as an adult) over 30 years, as their uneasy yet unshakeable bond becomes an increasingly toxic relationship.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
29 May 2026
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Bay Area content creator Kane Parsons pushes back on conventional storytelling, and his hypnotic approach results in one of 2026’s most exhilarating debuts, a existential head trip that GoPros us into a human subconscious besieged by misshapen memories that trap and hold you hostage.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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