narcotic
noun
nar·cot·ic
| \ när-ˈkä-tik
\
\
Definition of narcotic
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: a drug (such as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions
b
: a drug (such as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether physiologically (see physiological) addictive and narcotic or not
2
: something that soothes, relieves, or lulls
a public comforted by the narcotic of military supremacy
narcotic
adjectiveDefinition of narcotic (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: having the properties of or yielding a narcotic
b
: inducing mental lethargy
2
: of, induced by, or concerned with narcotics
3
: of, involving, or intended for narcotic addicts
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Other Words from narcotic
Adjective
narcotically
\ när-ˈkä-ti-k(ə-)lē
\
adverb
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adverb
Synonyms for narcotic
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Adjective
calming, comforting, dreamy, lulling, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, sedative, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing)
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Examples of narcotic in a Sentence
Noun
an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have doneAdjective
some therapists believe that certain scents can have a narcotic effect on people the lecturer droned on in a narcotic monotone that eventually had the entire class struggling to stay awake
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
When narcotics officers breached the front door of the home, gunfire erupted almost immediately. — Hollie Silverman, CNN, "Former Houston officer accused of lying faces murder charges after botched raid," 23 Aug. 2019 Gerald Goines, the narcotics officer who led the raid and wrote the affidavit used to justify it, faces charges of first-degree murder, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Friday. — Eli Rosenberg, Washington Post, "A couple was killed during a botched drug raid. Now an officer has been charged with murder.," 23 Aug. 2019 Former narcotics officer Gerald Goines allegedly fabricated information in order to obtain the search warrants on the belief that suspects in a home were dealing black-tar heroin. — NBC News, "Ex-Houston police officer charged with murder after deadly drug raid," 23 Aug. 2019 There are 2 narcotics officers inside the building with 3 prisoners right now. — Laura Barcella, PEOPLE.com, "Multiple Police Officers Shot in Philadelphia Firefight as Suspect Refuses to Stop Shooting," 14 Aug. 2019 As well as the 32-year-old narcotics officer could know a repeat drug dealer, anyway. — Jessica Boehm, azcentral, "A beat cop, a fateful shooting and the moments that shaped Phoenix's history," 17 July 2019 The sheriff told The Times that a new team of specialized narcotics officers is expected to begin drug enforcement operations later this year. — Joel Rubin, latimes.com, "Judge tosses drug case amid claims that L.A. sheriff’s team targeted Latinos on I-5," 28 June 2019 The Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, composed of narcotics officers from out the region, identified the accused and released details of its investigation on Thursday morning. — Valerie Royzman, Cincinnati.com, "More than 20 indicted, drugs, guns seized in NKY trafficking bust," 20 June 2019 According to the Decatur Daily, narcotics officers from the Limestone County Sheriff's Office were tipped off about the squirrel during a drug investigation, and showed up with a search warrant on Monday. — al.com, "Fugitive owner of Alabama attack squirrel: ‘I miss him hard’," 20 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Smoking is defined as using a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, weed, plant, regulated narcotic or other combustible substance. — Rick Pearson, chicagotribune.com, "People can now be fined for smoking in cars carrying minors in Illinois," 23 Aug. 2019 Rodriguez claimed the medication was not a narcotic. — Lauren Castle, azcentral, "Former Planned Parenthood Arizona employee awarded $3M over wrongful termination," 19 Aug. 2019 By 2004, eight years after it had been introduced, OxyContin had mushroomed into the most frequently prescribed narcotic for moderate to severe pain in the United States. — Anchorage Daily News, "Little-known makers of generic drugs played central role in opioid crisis, records show," 27 July 2019 Although the album contains a few of Petty’s most accomplished songs, for reasons ranging from the aesthetic to the narcotic, Southern Accents didn’t stick the landing. — Michael Washburn, Longreads, "Tom Petty’s Problematic Album Southern Accents," 9 July 2019 The highly dangerous street drug, a common form of counterfeit oxycodone, contains fentanyl, a narcotic so powerful that a speck the size of a grain of salt can kill a person, authorities said. — Pomerado News, "Authorities warn of dangerous blue pills," 26 July 2019 In July 2014, Arizona officials performed a lethal injection on Joseph Wood with the sedative midazolam and hydromorphone, a potent narcotic. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "We Are All Executioners Now," 25 July 2019 There were also traces of tobacco; hydromorphone, a narcotic often marketed as Dilaudid; and fluoxetine, an antidepressant sometimes sold under the name Prozac. — Stephanie Apstein, SI.com, "— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay)," 17 July 2019 Ken Jones said Joseph Striker, 37, was arrested on suspicion of possessing 14 grams of methamphetamine and Salvador Ochoa, 20, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a narcotic. — Ramona Sentinel, "Sheriff’s Reports: June 27 to July 7," 10 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'narcotic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for narcotic
narcotic
noun
English Language Learners Definition of narcotic
: a drug (such as cocaine, heroin, or marijuana) that affects the brain and that is usually dangerous and illegal
medical
: a drug that is given to people in small amounts to make them sleep or feel less pain
See the full definition for narcotic in the English Language Learners Dictionary
narcotic
noun
nar·cot·ic
| \ när-ˈkä-tik
\
\
Kids Definition of narcotic
(Entry 1 of 2)