opioid
adjective
opi·oid
| \ ˈō-pē-ˌȯid
\
\
Definition of opioid
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: possessing some properties characteristic of opiate narcotics but not derived from opium
2
: of, involving, or induced by an opioid
opioid
nounDefinition of opioid (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: any of a group of endogenous neural polypeptides (such as an endorphin or enkephalin) that bind especially to opiate receptors and mimic some of the pharmacological properties of opiates
— called also opioid peptide
2
: a synthetic drug possessing narcotic properties similar to opiates but not derived from opium
broadly
: opiate sense 1a
Examples of opioid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Elizabeth Burch, a professor at the University of Georgia School of Law who studies complex litigation, said the opioid defendants are fighting legal battles on multiple fronts. — Matthew Goldstein, New York Times, "Sacklers vs. States: Settlement Talks Stumble Over Foreign Business," 30 Aug. 2019 In March, Purdue and the Sackler family reached a $270 million settlement with Oklahoma over the opioid scourge. — Andrew Welsh-huggins, Anchorage Daily News, "OxyContin maker negotiating settlement worth a reported $12 billion," 28 Aug. 2019 In March, Purdue and the Sackler family reached a $270 million settlement with Oklahoma over the opioid scourge. — Andrew Welsh-huggins, The Denver Post, "OxyContin maker negotiating settlement worth a reported $12 billion," 28 Aug. 2019 In July, the two met to discuss statewide opioid restrictions. — Jasmine Johnson, Twin Cities, "Chronic pain patient leads charge in favor of opioids, despite addiction fears," 25 Aug. 2019 On Tuesday, the Justice Department joined an escalating effort to squeeze money from companies who made the prescription painkillers that fueled America's opioid crisis. — Julie Carr Smyth, Cincinnati.com, "John Kasich, Gordon Gee team up to steer opioid settlement cash to hospitals," 22 Aug. 2019 Op-ed by Rush: The opioid epidemic’s untold story -- enormous strain on courts According to her official State of Indiana bio, Rush is co-chair of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. — Elizabeth Depompei, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana's chief justice reappointed to second term," 21 Aug. 2019 At the height of the opioid wave, at least four drug-treatment centers closed. — Claudia Rowe, The Seattle Times, "‘Those were the darkest days’: How key budget cuts fueled Washington’s opioid crisis," 18 Aug. 2019 The Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center, in conjunction with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, announced Thursday the recipients of $10 million in grants to combat opioid addiction and overdoses. — Jon Kelvey, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Hogan gives Carroll funds for opioid disorders," 2 Sep. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Prescription opioids are no longer the main cause of death from addiction. — The Economist, "Legal settlements alone will not solve America’s opioid crisis," 29 Aug. 2019 But opioids were far more dangerous and addictive than the drug makers let on. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Johnson & Johnson got hit for a $572-million opioid verdict. Why did its stock go up?," 27 Aug. 2019 In recent years, illicit opioids have been responsible for most of the deaths. — Washington Post, "2 drug companies settle with counties in opioid-crisis suit," 20 Aug. 2019 In other cases, people desperate for and dependent on opioids are buying fake versions and suffering for it. — Stephanie Innes, azcentral, "Counterfeit medication is endangering Arizonans. Here's what you need to know.," 9 Aug. 2019 With enforcement focused on prescription opioids, the overdose crisis got worse. — Zachary Siegel, The New Republic, "The Opioid Crisis Is About More Than Corporate Greed," 30 July 2019 But with the state’s abysmal track record on opioids over the past decade, state leadership has called for improvements. — Ramsey Archibald | [email protected], al.com, "Where the opioid epidemic hit Alabama hardest," 21 July 2019 Much the way pain-pill addicts switched to heroin after the crackdown on prescription opioids, nicotine addicts will switch to cigarettes if safer alternatives aren’t available. — James P. Sutton, National Review, "San Francisco’s Vaping Ban Threatens to Push Teens Back Toward Cigarettes," 4 July 2019 Purdue knew its opioids were addictive and its sales tactics were insidious. — WSJ, "States Are Right to Pursue Big Opioid Maker," 19 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opioid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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