as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
morphine is an opiate drug
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of opiate
Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Craig’s performance is big, sometimes explosively so, and requires not only affected charm, but also deep sadness, the physical turmoil of opiate withdrawal, and some bumbling in the jungle.
—Rich Juzwiak, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for opiate
Adjective
Thousands of inmates wrongly tested positive for opiate use inside California state prisons last year because of a laboratory mistake, and civil rights attorneys now worry many of them could be denied parole and a chance at freedom because of it.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Craig’s performance is big, sometimes explosively so, and requires not only affected charm, but also deep sadness, the physical turmoil of opiate withdrawal, and some bumbling in the jungle.
—Rich Juzwiak, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
According to federal experts, fentanyl can be made cheaply and in large quantities in labs, and is far more potent than natural opiates like heroin or morphine.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for opiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiate
Adjective
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The aquarium has been a pioneer from the start, unveiling the world’s first living kelp forest exhibit and debuting large-scale displays of jellyfish—hypnotic creatures that pulse rhythmically through the glowing blue waters.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Even so, as Jerry delivers his hokum, Offerman invests it with a hypnotic clarity, a sense that Jerry is trying to create a rational and just world — to create salvation — out of the irrational.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 July 2025
Noun
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The suspects, who included minors, were apprehended at or near a Hays County residence, and narcotics were seized, officials said in a statement Wednesday.—
Elizabeth Zavala,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Police officials in a statement Monday said the man appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and was later found to be in possession of cocaine.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
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She was charged for intentionally distributing a drug called Tranq — a mix of Fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer Xylazine.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
7 July 2025
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The drug, which is commonly used as a tranquilizer for large animals in veterinary medicine, causes extreme sedation, slow breathing and skin ulcers when ingested by humans.—
Molly Gibbs,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
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When that had little effect, hospital staff gave him ketamine, an anesthetic used for surgery, and Estupinan was intubated for his safety.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
-
Process: Medical abortions do not require the use of an anesthetic and are less invasive.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiate. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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