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
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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
The teen was charged with first-degree larceny, tampering with physical evidence, interfering with an office and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. — Christine Dempsey, courant.com, "Report: Bridgeport cop uses gun to hit unarmed teen suspect," 19 Aug. 2019 Police charged a Westminster man with possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute them after police allegedly found heroin capsules and cocaine in serving a search warrant on his residence. — Catalina Righter, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Westminster man charged with intent to distribute heroin allegedly concealed in litter box," 7 Aug. 2019 Captain John Stringer with Madison Police Department Investigations told WHNT the men forced everyone in the store to the back room and robbed the pharmacy of narcotics. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "Police release dramatic video showing armed robbery at Walgreens," 2 Aug. 2019 The officer called in a police K9 officer because of suspicion of narcotics. — Bruce Geiselman, cleveland.com, "Suspect faces methamphetamine charge: Westlake Police Blotter," 21 July 2019 The database also includes drug codes, transaction dates, and total dosage units and grams of narcotics sold. — Author: Scott Higham, Sari Horwitz, Steven Rich, Anchorage Daily News, "Newly released federal data unmasks epidemic that led to 76 billion opioid pills," 17 July 2019 Since a change of heart in the prohibition of narcotics seems unlikely, the government will instead resort to more manual eradication—sending soldiers in helicopters to tear out crops while others hold farmers back. — The Economist, "Cocaine production in Colombia is at historic highs," 5 July 2019 Last month, prosecutors said their investigation has grown into a probe of 14,000 cases handled by the Houston Police Department’s narcotics division. — Washington Post, "Attorneys: Review raises doubts about fatal Texas drug raid," 25 July 2019 Two West Hartford residents were arrested earlier this month after police searched a home and found narcotics. — Emily Brindley, courant.com, "West Hartford residents arrested for meth, fentanyl, loaded firearm near children," 24 July 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)