thiopental
noun
thio·pen·tal
| \ ˌthī-ō-ˈpen-ˌtal
, -ˌtȯl\
, -ˌtȯl\
Definition of thiopental
: a barbiturate C11H18N2O2S used in the form of its sodium salt especially as an intravenous anesthetic — compare pentothal
Examples of thiopental in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the protocol was never used in an execution, and after years of failing to acquire one of the drugs, sodium thiopental, Nebraska prison officials changed their rules to let the state corrections director choose which chemicals to use. — Grant Schulte, The Seattle Times, "Nebraska to try risky 4-drug series in 1st lethal injection," 6 Aug. 2018 View Sample Sign Up Now States started using it for executions in 2011, due to a shortage of sodium thiopental, which was previously used in executions––along with pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride. — Josiah Bates, Time, "Why the Justice Department's Plan to Use a Single Drug for Lethal Injections Is Controversial," 29 July 2019 Four years ago, the state tried to illegally import sodium thiopental, which had been used to carry out executions but was no longer manufactured by companies approved by the Food and Drug Administration. — CBS News, "Arizona to resume executions for first time since 2014 lawsuit over alleged botched lethal injection," 26 July 2019 After sodium thiopental became unobtainable, states began experimenting with alternatives. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "We Are All Executioners Now," 25 July 2019 Sodium thiopental, the barbiturate used in the injection that killed Brooks, and pancuronium bromide are typically used in medical settings to anesthetize patients — they were not designed for use in lethal injection procedures. — Abdullah Shihipar, Teen Vogue, "Lethal Injection Drugs and the Death Penalty, Explained," 30 Oct. 2018 After years of struggling to acquire one of the drugs, sodium thiopental, Nebraska prison officials changed their rules last year to let the state corrections director choose which chemicals to use. — Grant Schulte, The Seattle Times, "Nebraska set for execution after about-face on death penalty," 13 Aug. 2018 But three years ago, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice tried getting 1,000 vials of the barbiturate sodium thiopental from overseas. — Keri Blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Media outlets fight to keep lethal injection court hearing open to public," 15 June 2018 The American maker of the drug sodium thiopental, used to render a person unconscious before other lethal drugs are administered, stopped producing it in 2009. — Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star, "What Indiana officials want to keep secret about executions," 16 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thiopental.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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