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
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Police here have released video of officers wrestling with and eventually detaining a man who went unresponsive and died after being injected with a controversial sedative.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2025
The library’s encyclopedias, clear and sedative beside the Bible’s cryptic thrills, still misled; Ruth lived for decades in an alternate reality containing Zanzibar and dipsomania.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Adjective
Didn't go to the hospital just took Benadryl [antihistamine and sedative] for about two weeks.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Police here have released video of officers wrestling with and eventually detaining a man who went unresponsive and died after being injected with a controversial sedative.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
There were also drops in binge drinking, lower scores on alcohol use disorder tests, and reductions in both the stimulating and sedative effects of alcohol.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2025
The library’s encyclopedias, clear and sedative beside the Bible’s cryptic thrills, still misled; Ruth lived for decades in an alternate reality containing Zanzibar and dipsomania.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
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Golfers can play a round at the renowned Torrey Pines golf course, and for those looking for a more relaxing experience, a hike through Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve offers incredible coastal views in the last surviving home of the namesake tree in the continental United States.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
25 Oct. 2025
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One of the most relaxing parts of the day is burrowing under your blankets before drifting off to sleep.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Spike takes one of Kelson's tranquilizer darts filled with morphine and stabs Samson in the arm with it.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
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Jacintha, a horseback rider, was familiar with ketamine as a horse tranquilizer but had never heard of it as a last-stop mental health treatment for treatment-resistant patients like Lucy, who was diagnosed with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Everyday Dal The warming, soothing and downright healing effects of dal are well known throughout South Asia and its diaspora.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
22 Oct. 2025
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The formula itself is quite gentle—hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin B5, and the label’s prebiotic thermal water come together for a versatile serum apt at hydrating, soothing, and strengthening the skin barrier.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for chronic pain indications, potentially influencing investment and development priorities in the pharmaceutical industry.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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Tylenol’s active ingredient is acetaminophen, a drug that is known as an analgesic, which can help with pain relief.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Make the hearty and comforting flavors of taco soup a bit more rich with this creamy taco soup recipe.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
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Dishes like wild halibut with Jimmy Nardello peppers and spaghetti with squash and spinach feel nourishing and comforting, but never boring.—
Jocelyn Silver,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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