: a sedative agent or drug
Synonyms of sedative
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Adjective
Examples of sedative in a Sentence
Adjective
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal
Noun
The patient was given a powerful sedative.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
In that sense, pregabalin (brand name Lyrica), which is used to treat nerve pain and is associated with sedative effects, is less common.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 June 2026
The attorneys also said prosecutors did not prove the sedative is what killed him.
—Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
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Adjective
McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, died after Aurora police put him in a neck hold and a paramedic injected him with an overdose of sedative ketamine.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
In that sense, pregabalin (brand name Lyrica), which is used to treat nerve pain and is associated with sedative effects, is less common.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
The woman did a Google image search and concluded that the drug was stronger — Ambien, a prescription sedative, reads the complaint.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 June 2026
The attorneys also said prosecutors did not prove the sedative is what killed him.
—Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedative. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sedative
1 of 2 adjective
sed·a·tive
ˈsed-ət-iv 
: tending to calm or to ease tension
sedative
2 of 2 noun
: a sedative medicine
Medical Definition
sedative
1 of 2 adjective
sed·a·tive
ˈsed-ət-iv
: tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement
sedative effects of anesthetics and analgesics—Linda C. Haynes et al.
Linda C. Haynes et al.sedative
2 of 2 noun
: a sedative agent or drug
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