heroin
noun
her·o·in
ˈher-ə-wən 
ˈhe-rə-
: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the U.S. but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects
Examples of heroin in a Sentence
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Their neighbours include Oli (Jay Lycurgo), a loveable goofball who deals heroin to make ends meet, and Conor (Daryl McCormack), whose struggles with alcohol intensify as his pregnant wife Sophie (Lucie Shorthouse) nears her due date.
—
Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 22 May 2026
There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin, is now giving way to even deadlier compounds such as the 10-times more powerful cychlorphine.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
But things started to fall apart in the summer of 1996, when touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin (the brother of Prince associates Susannah and Wendy Melvoin) and Chamberlin overdosed on heroin in a New York City hotel room.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 May 2026
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Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 22 May 2026
There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin, is now giving way to even deadlier compounds such as the 10-times more powerful cychlorphine.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
But things started to fall apart in the summer of 1996, when touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin (the brother of Prince associates Susannah and Wendy Melvoin) and Chamberlin overdosed on heroin in a New York City hotel room.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for heroin
Cite this Entry
“Heroin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroin. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heroin
noun
her·o·in
ˈher-ə-wən
: a strongly addictive drug made from the opium poppy and stronger than morphine
Medical Definition
heroin
noun
her·o·in
ˈher-ə-wən
: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the United States but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects
called also acetomorphine, diacetylmorphine, diamorphine
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