crystal meth

noun

variants or less commonly crystal methamphetamine

: methamphetamine in the form of crystals of its hydrochloride salt C₁₀H₁₅N·HCl when used illicitly for smoking, snorting, or injecting

Crystal meth is so addictive that users often need to make several attempts to break their habit.—Jeremy Quittner

called also crank, crystal, ice

Examples of crystal meth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Deputies said that both liquid and crystal meth were seized from the location. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 27 June 2026 That year, the then-19-year-old was arrested for possession of crystal meth, served 90 days in jail, and entered rehab a fifth time. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026 Meth is easier to make on an industrial scale than labor-intensive opium and is distributed as tablets and crystal meth by land, sea and air around Asia and the Pacific. — CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025 The actress struggled with crystal meth addiction and cocaine addiction after Full House ended its eight-season run and has also been open about her journey with alcoholism. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crystal meth

Word History

Etymology

meth short for methamphetamine

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of crystal meth was in 1969

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Crystal meth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystal%20meth. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

crystal meth

noun

variants or crystal methamphetamine

: methamphetamine in the form of crystals of its hydrochloride salt C₁₀H₁₅N·HCl when used illicitly for smoking, snorting, or injecting

called also crank, crystal, ice

crystal meth

noun

Examples of crystal meth in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

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