1
as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
some therapists believe that certain scents can have a narcotic effect on people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
the lecturer droned on in a narcotic monotone that eventually had the entire class struggling to stay awake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in opiate
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have done
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of narcotic
Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Sailing through international waters, the boat's behavior raised alarms about narcotic trafficking, according to the Coast Guard, which sent a small cutter to intercept it and ultimately found the contraband on board.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
Jessi Virtusio, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025
Medina-Perez had been arrested four days before the hearing on April 2, 2018, for possessing narcotics and being a fugitive from justice in Pennsylvania.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for narcotic
Adjective
She is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, all Level 6 felonies, plus one misdemeanor.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Sailing through international waters, the boat's behavior raised alarms about narcotic trafficking, according to the Coast Guard, which sent a small cutter to intercept it and ultimately found the contraband on board.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
Previously assigned to patrol, Bloomberg is now with investigations and is part of a tactical team that is a narcotics unit.
—Jessi Virtusio, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025
Medina-Perez had been arrested four days before the hearing on April 2, 2018, for possessing narcotics and being a fugitive from justice in Pennsylvania.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for narcotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narcotic
Adjective
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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
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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
Noun
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My niece and then my sister reached out to me because my niece has been using opiates heavily, which cost her a job and almost led to her being incarcerated.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
12 May 2025
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Members of Hinge Health can access virtual exercise therapy and an electrical nerve stimulation device called Enso that’s designed to serve as an alternative to pain medications like opiates.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 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
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Process: Medical abortions do not require the use of an anesthetic and are less invasive.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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But beneath their soothing prompts lie important questions: How effective are these tools?—
Pooja Shree Chettiar,
The Conversation,
10 July 2025
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In tea form, turmeric and garlic create a soothing, nutrient-rich herbal tonic.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Saltz: Lorazepam is in the class of medications called benzodiazepines, which is a depressant, and also sometimes referred to as a sedative hypnotic medication.—
Ben Tinker,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2025
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In any case, chamomile flowers—which look like adorable, tiny daisies—contain flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins which certainly have mildly sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties.—
Valentina Bottoni,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Narcotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narcotic. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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