fentanyl
noun
fen·ta·nyl
ˈfen-tə-ˌnil 
: a synthetic opioid narcotic analgesic C22H28N2O with pharmacological action similar to morphine that is administered transdermally as a skin patch and in the form of its citrate C22H28N2O·C6H8O7 is administered orally or parenterally (as by intravenous or epidural injection)
Examples of fentanyl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Boothe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum term of prison of 40 years, officials said.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025
But today, fentanyl—with all the side effects that accompany its interaction with buprenorphine—has taken over the market for illicit opioids.
—Ethan Brooks, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
Drug seizures at the southwest border increased overall in fiscal year 2024, but fentanyl seizures decreased.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized close to 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl from a cruise passenger arriving in Galveston, Texas.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Specifically relating to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, the CDC reported an estimated 55,126 deaths in the same 12-month period, down from 79,432 the year before.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
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Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025
But today, fentanyl—with all the side effects that accompany its interaction with buprenorphine—has taken over the market for illicit opioids.
—Ethan Brooks, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
Drug seizures at the southwest border increased overall in fiscal year 2024, but fentanyl seizures decreased.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized close to 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl from a cruise passenger arriving in Galveston, Texas.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Specifically relating to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, the CDC reported an estimated 55,126 deaths in the same 12-month period, down from 79,432 the year before.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fentanyl
Cite this Entry
“Fentanyl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fentanyl. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fentanyl
noun
fen·ta·nyl
ˈfent-ᵊn-ˌil
: a synthetic opioid narcotic analgesic C22H28N2O with pharmacological action similar to morphine that is administered transdermally as a skin patch and in the form of its citrate C22H28N2O·C6H8O7 is administered orally or parenterally
Note: Fentanyl is marketed under the trademark Actiq.
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