as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tranquilizer
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sedative
Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
In high doses, users report sedative effects, according to a Department of Justice fact sheet.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The wrecked car was overturned with the nude model sleeping inside—playing dead with help from a mild sedative.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Adjective
Depending on the dosage, consumption can cause stimulant effects in low dosages and sedative effects in high doses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2020.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
In high doses, users report sedative effects, according to a Department of Justice fact sheet.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
The bitterness in chicories comes from the chemical compound lactucopicrin or intybin, which is their natural defense against disease and predators — and is also said to be a faint sedative and mild pain killer.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The wrecked car was overturned with the nude model sleeping inside—playing dead with help from a mild sedative.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
-
Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska For a relaxing dip, Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks, Alaska, has a hot spring-fed lake that stays around 106 degrees year-round.—
Talia Avakian,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
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There’s the relaxing and meditative Cinq Mondes & Vinésime Spa, cooking classes, a gym, tennis, padel and pickleball courts, yoga and Pilates classes, fishing, vineyard safaris, sommelier master classes, seasonal truffle hunting and more.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Naloxone, the ingredient in Narcan, is an antidote for opioid overdoses, but because xylazine is not an opioid, the emergency medicine only stops the effects of fentanyl, not the tranquilizer, making those who overdose more likely to have lethal repercussions.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
-
As the tranquilizer kicked in, the bear climbed higher into the tree before stumbling down a branch, eventually losing its grip completely and falling into the net.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Across all participants, 81% reduced their use of oral analgesics, and the suppository was well-tolerated, with most participants willing to use it again.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
One approach to the treatment of pain, almost regardless of its cause, has gained both acceptance and notoriety: the use of opioids, or narcotic analgesics.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Opt for the signature Polynesian massage, which mimics soothing wave-like movements from head to toe.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
The formula includes hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, giving it a soothing, balm-like feel that softens lips overnight.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The authors of the study found that, although honesty remains important overall, many individuals actually preferred comforting or reassuring dishonesty over the harsh truth in certain situations.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
Sunday Chicken tastes deeply savory and comforting, with the mustard and oregano giving the crispy skin a subtle tang and herbaceous warmth.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The prose is hypnotic, all the more so for its many digressions and parentheses, unveiling tiny set pieces like so many Fabergé eggs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
The race there begins somberly in the museum before runners bound up one flight of stairs into a hallway that leads into the main stairwell; from there, the steps settle into continuous, shallow right turns providing a repetitive, hypnotic cadence.—
Michelle Sinclair Colman,
Curbed,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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