methamphetamine

noun

meth·​am·​phet·​amine ˌme-tham-ˈfe-tə-ˌmēn How to pronounce methamphetamine (audio)
-thəm-,
-mən
: a synthetic or semisynthetic compound C10H15N that stimulates the central nervous system, is used medically in the form of its crystalline hydrochloride C10H15N·HCl especially to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity, and that is often abused illicitly for its stimulant properties
methamphetamine is a powerful addictive stimulant whose longtime consumers tend to suffer from paranoia, depression, hallucinations, and violent rages.William Finnegan

called also meth, methedrine, speed

compare crystal meth

Examples of methamphetamine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Manuel Betancourt-Renteria Manuel Betancourt-Renteria of Mexico has 10 convictions, including two counts of assault, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, larceny and five traffic offenses, according to DHS. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025 The unsealed videos showed officers, including former CMPD officer Heather Loveridge, swarming the home of a man who was accused of trafficking methamphetamine. Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025 The prison drug ring involved the coordination of multi-pound deals on the outside, even in other states, as well as smuggling of methamphetamine and heroin into the prison, court records show. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025 As that litigation unfolded, a federal grand jury indicted Tottleben on the methamphetamine charge in February 2021, but for reasons that are not clear in court records, he was not arrested until May 2023. Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for methamphetamine

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of methamphetamine was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Methamphetamine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methamphetamine. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

methamphetamine

noun
meth·​am·​phet·​amine ˌmeth-am-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn How to pronounce methamphetamine (audio)
: a drug derived from amphetamine that is often used illegally as a stimulant of the central nervous system

Medical Definition

methamphetamine

noun
meth·​am·​phet·​amine ˌmeth-am-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn, ˌmeth-əm-, -mən How to pronounce methamphetamine (audio)
: an amine C10H15N that is used medically in the form of its crystalline hydrochloride C10H15N·HCl especially to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity and that is often abused illicitly as a stimulant

called also meth, methedrine, methylamphetamine, speed

More from Merriam-Webster on methamphetamine

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