tranquilizer

noun

tran·​quil·​iz·​er ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈtran-

variants or less commonly tranquillizer

1

: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (such as anxiety and tension) compare antipsychotic

2

: one that tranquilizes

Examples of tranquilizer in a Sentence

a patient who is on tranquilizers

Recent Examples on the Web

And, kits to test drugs for xylazine, a potent, non-opioid large animal tranquilizer that is most often mixed into fentanyl. —Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 13 May 2024

Used as a tranquilizer for livestock, xylazine is cheap and allows drug dealers to use less of the more costly fentanyl. —The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

tranquilizer

noun

tran·​quil·​iz·​er

variants also tranquillizer

ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈtran-

: one that tranquilizes

especially : a drug used to reduce anxiety and nervous tension

Medical Definition

tranquilizer

noun

tran·​quil·​iz·​er

variants or chiefly British tranquillizer or tranquilliser

-ˌlī-zər 

: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (as anxiety and tension) see antipsychotic