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After bromine was discovered in 1827, chemists could not resist experimenting with the new element. It didn't take long before they found uses for its compounds, in particular potassium bromide, which was used as a sedative to treat everything from epilepsy to sleeplessness. By the 20th century, bromide was being used figuratively to apply to anything or anyone that might put one to sleep because of commonness or just plain dullness.
Synonyms
Examples of bromide in a Sentence
His speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together.
a newspaper editorial offering the timeworn bromide that people should settle their differences peacefully
Recent Examples on the Web
The two-dimensional characters communicate in bromides; Lena’s fellow privates, who suffer from the laziest defining characteristics (coarse Southern gal, proper preacher’s daughter, New Yorker), are the worst offenders.
—
Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
In place of triumph-of-the-human-spirit bromides, though, what the book delivers is its own kind of cinema, harsh and true.
—New York Times, 8 July 2024
The recession generated populist revolts on the right (the Tea Party movement) and the left (the Occupy movement), and made what had appeared to be broad public acceptance of pro-market bromides seem like an illusion.
—Nicholas Lemann, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Antihistamines to reduce the body's immune response (e.g., diphenhydramine)
Bronchodilators to further open the airways (e.g., albuterol or an ipratropium bromide and albuterol combination)
Insect Stings
Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis are caused by exposure to an allergen.
—Daniel More, Health, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bromide 
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Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
In place of triumph-of-the-human-spirit bromides, though, what the book delivers is its own kind of cinema, harsh and true.
—New York Times, 8 July 2024
The recession generated populist revolts on the right (the Tea Party movement) and the left (the Occupy movement), and made what had appeared to be broad public acceptance of pro-market bromides seem like an illusion.
—Nicholas Lemann, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Antihistamines to reduce the body's immune response (e.g., diphenhydramine)
Bronchodilators to further open the airways (e.g., albuterol or an ipratropium bromide and albuterol combination)
Insect Stings
Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis are caused by exposure to an allergen.
—Daniel More, Health, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bromide
Dictionary Entries Near bromide
Cite this Entry
“Bromide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bromide. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bromide
noun
bro·mide
ˈbrō-ˌmīd 
: any of various compounds of bromine with another element or a chemical group including some used as sedatives
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