as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
morphine is an opiate drug
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of opiate
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025
When European settlers arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries, many used marijuana as an ingredient in medicine for ailments like cholera, alcoholism, opiate addiction and asthma, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Devan Díaz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
Combs overdosed on painkillers in 2012, Ventura testifies Combs overdosed on painkillers in February 2012 and for a time had an addiction to opiates, Ventura testified.
—Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for opiate
Adjective
After opiate addiction, eating disorders are the psychiatric illness with the highest mortality rate in the U.S.
Clein believes social media platforms have a responsibility to address how their algorithms promote these videos.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025
When European settlers arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries, many used marijuana as an ingredient in medicine for ailments like cholera, alcoholism, opiate addiction and asthma, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Through the lens of harm reduction, a glass of wine seems benign, certainly less harmful than opiates.
—Devan Díaz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
Combs overdosed on painkillers in 2012, Ventura testifies Combs overdosed on painkillers in February 2012 and for a time had an addiction to opiates, Ventura testified.
—Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for opiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiate
Adjective
-
Along with guitarist Mike Campbell and Petty himself, Tench was with the Heartbreakers from their formation in 1976 all the way to their final show in 2017, toggling between the piano and Hammond organ as Petty’s kick-ass spellcaster who flew through songs like a hypnotic spiral.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
6 June 2025
-
Meanwhile, every spring in Baja, Mexico, mobula rays gather by the thousands, swirling in a hypnotic vortex.—
Rona Berg,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
This demonstration will feature the skill set to find specific odors such as narcotics, explosives and wildlife.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2025
-
After Guest was taken into custody, a search of the vehicle found multiple paraphernalia and narcotics.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
According to the municipal code, tranquilizers can be used as a means of capture.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2025
-
The amount of fentanyl appears to be dropping (see above), while the amount of animal tranquilizers, such as medetomidine and xylazine, is rising.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Food and Drug Administration has formally approved the use of ketamine only as an anesthetic in medical procedures.—
Kirsten Grind,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
Xenon is expensive, which has limited its use as an anesthetic and in athletics.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share