1
as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
some therapists believe that certain scents can have a narcotic effect on people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep
the lecturer droned on in a narcotic monotone that eventually had the entire class struggling to stay awake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in opiate
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of narcotic
Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Dykstra, 62, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing narcotics and narcotic-related equipment but was not taken into custody, trooper Kody Nowicki told The Athletic.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Tehran presents a direct missile threat to European nations, funds terrorist and narcotics networks on European soil, and actively works to undermine the same Western alliance holding the line on Ukraine.
—Joseph Epstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for narcotic
Adjective
The men were loose-brained now, dulled by aguardiente and whatever narcotic Grejo had shot into himself, but the morning sun might deliver a hard-nosed clarity, the kind that could get Adi killed.
—Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Dykstra, 62, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing narcotics and narcotic-related equipment but was not taken into custody, trooper Kody Nowicki told The Athletic.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Detectives found evidence suggesting that Dushay had allegedly supplied narcotics to the man prior to the overdose and tampered with evidence at the scene, Wellington said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Tehran presents a direct missile threat to European nations, funds terrorist and narcotics networks on European soil, and actively works to undermine the same Western alliance holding the line on Ukraine.
—Joseph Epstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for narcotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narcotic
Adjective
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Others use kratom to self-treat chronic pain, to get a relaxing high or to self-treat mental health issues such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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And for me, there’s no better detour in Europe than visiting a public bath or spa for a relaxing, good soak.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Later in the book, after Thomas has died, the narrator visits Max at his home in California, where another hypnotic two-hander unfolds.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Watching hummingbirds is very Zen-like, almost hypnotic.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
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Offering 99 percent accuracy for five different drugs, this drug test has exceptional sensitivity for detecting opiates in urine.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In Ohio, the recent trend among people who use fentanyl is to find pills spiked with an animal tranquilizer that causes severe addiction, said Beckman, of the Hamilton County Quick Response Team.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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According to court records, a powerful animal tranquilizer known as BAM — a combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — was found in her bone marrow.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The formula includes soothing hydrators such as glycerin, dimethicone, and glyceryl behenate, plus antioxidants (vitamin E and C derivatives) to help calm and protect the skin.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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The design is modern and clean-lined with soaring peaked ceilings, lots of dark wood, soothing white and neutral accents and, importantly, private outdoor space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, one of Iran’s largest producers of anti-cancer drugs and anesthetics was hit on Tuesday, state media reported.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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Ketamine, which has long been used as an anesthetic, has drawn growing academic interest in recent years.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Both Tehran and Washington are pushing their own comforting versions of reality.—
Newsweek Editors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Maybe the pretense was comforting to him, too.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Depending on the dosage, consumption can cause stimulant effects in low dosages and sedative effects in high doses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2020.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
26 Mar. 2026
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In high doses, users report sedative effects, according to a Department of Justice fact sheet.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narcotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narcotic. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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