thiopental

noun

thio·​pen·​tal ˌthī-ō-ˈpen-ˌtal How to pronounce thiopental (audio) -ˌtȯl How to pronounce thiopental (audio)
: a barbiturate C11H18N2O2S used in the form of its sodium salt especially as an intravenous anesthetic compare pentothal

Examples of thiopental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prompted by a shortage of anesthetic previously used for lethal injections, sodium thiopental, pentobarbital was first used for execution in the U.S. as part of a lethal three-drug cocktail in 2010 in Oklahoma. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024 States, then the federal government, turned to it when the European Union banned the export of sodium thiopental to prevent its use in executions. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024 Most executions were conducted with sodium thiopental as the anesthetic. Chiara Eisner, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024 One likely strategy is to continue to lobby the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to allow the importation of thiopental. Jen Fifield, The Arizona Republic, 5 Aug. 2021 See all Example Sentences for thiopental 

Word History

Etymology

thi- + pentobarbital

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thiopental was in 1947

Dictionary Entries Near thiopental

Cite this Entry

“Thiopental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thiopental. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

thiopental

noun
thio·​pen·​tal ˌthī-ō-ˈpen-ˌtal How to pronounce thiopental (audio) -ˌtȯl How to pronounce thiopental (audio)
: a barbiturate used in the form of its sodium salt C11H17N2NaO2S especially as an intravenous anesthetic see pentothal
Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!