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
The Grant County pharmacy Len’s Drug had the second-highest rate of opioid pill sales in Oregon. — oregonlive.com, "Oregon pharmacists sold millions of opioid pills, say they felt powerless to say no," 16 Aug. 2019 The first episode, in which Roseanne dies of an opioid overdose, was heart-wrenching. — Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times, "John Goodman Was a Man Without a Series. Now He’s Everywhere.," 16 Aug. 2019 This is compounded by the unease of managing pain relief, especially during a national opioid crisis. — Bobby Antalek, The Mercury News, "Opinion: Bay Area caregivers will become casualties without needed support," 15 Aug. 2019 Speaking of Scherer: The Circleville Republican has introduced legislation that would legalize kratom, a controversial supplement that proponents claim can treat opioid withdrawal. — Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com, "AG Dave Yost suspends but defends Ohio’s facial-recognition software: Capitol Letter," 15 Aug. 2019 So robustly do people underestimate nonwhites’ experience of pain that, according to one study, pharmacies in nonwhite neighborhoods understock opioid analgesics compared to pharmacies in primarily white neighborhoods. — K.n.c., The Economist, "Societies are tearing apart, but they can be brought together," 14 Aug. 2019 The suits commonly argue that manufacturers and distributors intentionally downplayed the risks of opioid prescription drugs and seek compensation for the public programs and services meant to curb addiction. — Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Three people died of suspected overdoses in West Allis on the same day," 13 Aug. 2019 Under this strategic partnership, the two entities will work together to raise awareness about the benefits of cannabis helping No Vet Alone members recover from opioid addition. — Dave Brooks, Billboard, "Mario Guzman's Sherbinskis Cannabis Brand Partners With No Vet Alone to Combat Opioid Epidemic," 13 Aug. 2019 These two pharmacies accounted for 79% of the total opioid pills distributed to five drugstores in surrounding Johnson County. — Anchorage Daily News, "Just 15% of U.S. pharmacies distributed nearly half of prescription opioid pain pills," 12 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is sometimes cut into cocaine and may be a reason for that sharp increase, Himes, D-4th District, said. — Russell Blair, courant.com, "Capitol Week in Review: Plastic bag tax and a Bridgeport casino," 2 Aug. 2019 Antonella Barba, 32, pleaded guilty in a Norfolk court Tuesday after she was caught by a police stakeout in Virginia last year with a large amount of the synthetic opioid. — Fox News, "Former 'American Idol' contestant pleads guilty to moving nearly 2 pounds of fentanyl, could face up to 10 years in prison," 31 July 2019 The Virginian-Pilot reports that 32-year-old Antonella Barba pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to distribute a synthetic opioid. — Los Angeles Times, "Ex-‘American Idol’ contestant admits to delivering fentanyl," 31 July 2019 Officials also attributed Cuyahoga County’s decrease in 2018 deaths to a 91 percent drop in deaths involving carfentanil, a synthetic opioid and large animal sedative. — Evan Macdonald, cleveland.com, "Drug overdose deaths fell last year in Ohio, but may be on the rise again in Cuyahoga County," 17 July 2019 At the center of Martin’s case are counterfeit pills that often resemble prescription oxycodone but instead contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can turn fatal even in small doses. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Drug rehab counselor charged with murder in Navy man’s fentanyl overdose death," 22 June 2019 Now the heroin supply is tainted with the synthetic opioid fentanyl. — Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, "Opioid prescriptions in Michigan are declining, but a crisis still rages," 19 June 2019 The number of deaths blamed on the synthetic opioid more than doubled in three years, reaching 102 deaths in 2018. — Carina Julig, The Denver Post, "Colorado overdose deaths fall for first time since 2012," 10 June 2019 Such an amount of the synthetic opioid would be 20 times higher than what would be appropriate for a patient, depending on their size and circumstance, medical experts say. — NBC News, "Case against Ohio doctor charged with killing 25 patients may hinge on former colleagues," 6 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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