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

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 Sometimes his approach is so left-of-center that whole lines feel arrhythmic, but there’s a sedative allure in the way his sweet melodies find stasis in the chaos. — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026

Noun

For those who don’t know the history of the infamous drug, thalidomide was foisted on an unsuspecting public in the 1950s by the pharmaceutical industry as a mild sedative and later — tragically — to mask nausea in pregnant mothers. — Josh Schlossberg, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026 Monroe reportedly ingested a lethal dose of Nembutal, an anxiety medication, as well as a large dose of chloral hydrate, a drug used as a sedative. — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sedative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative

Adjective

Tushy Fresh Dual-Nozzle Bidet Offering easy installation, this bidet with a no-frills interface has some relaxing perks (including a heated water option) without too many extra knobs and levers.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
Ocean-facing rooms have hot tubs built into the balconies and few things are more relaxing than watching the neon-pinky swirl of sunset from the tub, through the layer of jungle bush.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 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

For sensitive or dry underarms, the deodorant also uses a soothing blend of shea butter, spirulina, and niacinamide to keep pits comfortable all day long.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
On the upside, the villas are one of the more soothing spots for a mild hangover.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 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

While some people say their sleep is disrupted, others find pets comforting.

— Maggie Penman, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
The plush, balm-meets-mask formula coats lips in a comforting layer that keeps moisture from escaping overnight, with hyaluronic acid, minerals, and antioxidant-rich Berry Mix Complex helping soften dry, flaky skin.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of comforting

Adjective

And in the Dominican Republic, DIY beatmakers disassembled and sped up reggaeton’s dembow riddim into hypnotic dance floor experience, paving the way for crossover sensations like El Alfa and Tokischa.

— Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Each feels expansively lush without ever losing that genuinely old school rock and roll momentum, in large part due to the hypnotic drumming of Adam Shumski and inventive lead guitars of Dan Ryan.

— Brendan Hay, SPIN, 12 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sedative

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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