designer drug

noun

1
: a synthetic version of a controlled substance (such as heroin) that is produced with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid having it classified as an illicit drug
2
: a synthetic, therapeutic agent designed to have a highly selective mode of action so that effectiveness is maximized and side effects are minimized compared with existing therapies

Examples of designer drug in a Sentence

Ecstasy is a designer drug.
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.
Chicago is on edge because of a new lethal designer drug whose victims have been those who are not drug addicts. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026 The kids treat it like a designer drug, filming their hallucinatory freak-outs on their phones. — Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2023 This approach genetically alters neurons so that they can be controlled by designer drugs. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025 Tommy and Claudia’s partnership to distribute the designer drug Dahlia never felt authentic, especially since there was very little trust between them. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023 See All Example Sentences for designer drug

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of designer drug was in 1983

Rhymes for designer drug

See All Rhymes for designer drug

Browse Nearby Words

designer
designer drug
designership
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Cite this Entry

“Designer drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designer%20drug. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

designer drug

noun
de·​sign·​er drug di-ˌzī-nər- How to pronounce designer drug (audio)
1
: a synthetic version of a controlled substance (such as heroin) that is produced with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid classification as an illicit drug
Los Angeles County health officials warned Tuesday against the use of bath salts—the designer drug involved in a series of bizarre incidents and arrests …—Wesley Lowery, The Los Angeles Times
… the firm is involved in the illegal production and sale of MDMA, a designer drug commonly known as "ecstasy."—Time
2
: a synthetic, therapeutic agent designed to have a highly selective mode of action so that effectiveness is maximized and side effects are minimized compared with existing therapies
In contrast to past trial-and-error discovery, we are starting to see designer drugs that target known sites on molecules implicated in disease.—Nathaniel C. Comfort, The New York Times Book Review
Results of another dramatic prevention study zeroed in on raloxifene, a chemical cousin of tamoxifen, and one of the first so-called estrogen designer drugs.—Patricia Guthrie, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Legal Definition

designer drug

noun
de·​sign·​er drug
: a synthetic version of a controlled substance (as heroin) that is produced with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid having it classified as an illegal drug

More from Merriam-Webster on designer drug

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about designer drug

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