haloperidol

noun

hal·​o·​per·​i·​dol ˌha-lō-ˈper-ə-ˌdȯl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio) -ˌdōl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio)
: a depressant C21H23ClFNO2 of the central nervous system used especially as an antipsychotic drug

Examples of haloperidol in a Sentence

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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.
Haloperidol Combining the antipsychotic haloperidol with buspirone could result in higher levels of haloperidol in the body. — Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025 But in the 1970s, the discovery of dopamine receptors in the brain led to an important realization: haloperidol binds to and blocks a certain type of dopamine receptor, suggesting that dopamine — specifically, having too much of it — plays a central role in schizophrenia. — Celia Ford, Vox, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

hal- + piperidine + -ol entry 1

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of haloperidol was in 1960

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“Haloperidol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haloperidol. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

haloperidol

noun
halo·​per·​i·​dol ˌhal-ō-ˈper-ə-ˌdȯl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio) -ˌdōl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio)
: a butyrophenone antipsychotic drug C21H23ClFNO2 used especially to treat schizophrenia and to control the involuntary tics and vocalizations of Tourette's syndrome see haldol

More from Merriam-Webster on haloperidol

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about haloperidol

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