performance-enhancing drug
noun
: a substance (such as an anabolic steroid, human growth hormone, or erythropoietin) that is used illicitly to improve athletic performance
In the United States, more than 1 million elite and recreational athletes use performance-enhancing drugs for muscle building purposes.—
Josiah D. Rich et al.
Josiah D. Rich et al.…33 of the 48 major and minor league players suspended by baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs since the start of 2006 were pitchers.—Sean Gregory
Sean GregoryRoger Bannister, the first person to run a subpar four-minute mile, said today he thought that increased use of blood testing could help curb the use of performance-enhancing drugs by track and field athletes.—The New York Times
—abbreviation PED
The New York TimesExamples of performance-enhancing drug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At a certain point, ideological conviction probably functions like a performance-enhancing drug.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Rafael Palmeiro, atop the list with 3,020 hits, would be a fourth if not for issues with performance-enhancing drugs.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The only two players to hit 60 or more homers multiple times in a career are Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, both of whom were linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Hooton now leads the Taylor Hooton Foundation, which educates young people about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.
—Grace Baek, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
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Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Rafael Palmeiro, atop the list with 3,020 hits, would be a fourth if not for issues with performance-enhancing drugs.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The only two players to hit 60 or more homers multiple times in a career are Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, both of whom were linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Hooton now leads the Taylor Hooton Foundation, which educates young people about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.
—Grace Baek, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
Cite this Entry
“Performance-enhancing drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/performance-enhancing%20drug. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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