sedative

1 of 2

adjective

sed·​a·​tive ˈse-də-tiv How to pronounce sedative (audio)
: tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement

sedative

2 of 2

noun

: a sedative agent or drug

Examples of sedative in a Sentence

Adjective some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal Noun The patient was given a powerful sedative.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Roget had spent the previous four years since his graduation taking additional courses and working odd jobs, even volunteering in the spring of 1799 as a test subject at the Pneumatic Institution in Clifton, England, for a trial of the sedative nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Claudia Kalb, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2021 Her attorney also listed buspirone (an antianxiety drug), hydroxyzine (an antihistamine that is traditionally used for anxiety or insomina), and Ambien (a sedative-hypnotic). Jessica Bartlett, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023 Kratom alkaloids stimulate the opioid receptors in the brain, producing effects that range from sedative-like and calming to energizing and euphoric. Dallas News, 30 Jan. 2023 The first antipsychotic was designed as a sedative, and so on. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 26 Apr. 2017 An antagonist that reverses the sedative effects of xylazine, called atipamezole, is used in veterinary medicine. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2023 Two police officers, two paramedics and a former police officer pleaded not guilty Friday in the killing of Elijah McClain, 23, a Black man who died after he was placed in a chokehold and given a powerful sedative while in handcuffs. Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2023 Risk factors that would trigger the requirement include taking a high daily dose of an opioid (at least 90 morphine milligram equivalents, or MME); taking certain other drugs, like sedative hypnotics; or having a history of substance use disorder. Michelle Andrews, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2023 Oklahoma uses a three-drug lethal injection method starting with the sedative midazolam, rendering the person unconscious, followed by a paralytic vecuronium bromide and finally potassium chloride, which stops the heart. Steve Smith, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2023
Noun
Paramedics then injected him with an overdose of the powerful sedative ketamine. Kelley Manley, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 The condition can be treated with therapies and medications like sedatives, muscle relaxants and steroids. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2024 This invasive method can be dangerous for both the bears and the researchers; in addition, some Indigenous communities oppose the practice over animal welfare concerns or fears of eating meat that’s possibly tainted by sedatives. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023 Its unique quality is its capacity to induce profound relaxation without leading to overly sedative effects, even though sedation may be deeper in certain individuals and those with a lower kratom tolerance. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2024 If nitrogen hypoxia is proven to be safe, effective and easy to administer, the availability of nitrogen reduces the strain of locating and obtaining the sedatives and paralytics for our current protocol. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2024 He was injected with the sedative after being forcibly restrained. Colleen Slevin and Matthew Brown, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Dec. 2023 The teen eventually was injected with ketamine, a sedative, then taken to a hospital, according to the lawsuit and video. Lisa Rathke, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2024 An autopsy found that Rodríguez had fentanyl and xylazine, a sedative used for animals including horses, in her system. CBS News, 6 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sedative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, alleviating pain, from Middle French sedatif, from Medieval Latin sedativus, from Latin sedatus

First Known Use

Adjective

1779, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sedative was in 1779

Dictionary Entries Near sedative

Cite this Entry

“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedative. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sedative

1 of 2 adjective
sed·​a·​tive ˈsed-ət-iv How to pronounce sedative (audio)
: tending to calm or to ease tension

sedative

2 of 2 noun
: a sedative medicine

Medical Definition

sedative

1 of 2 adjective
sed·​a·​tive ˈsed-ət-iv How to pronounce sedative (audio)
: tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement
sedative effects of anesthetics and analgesicsLinda C. Haynes et al.

sedative

2 of 2 noun
: a sedative agent or drug

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