opiate

1 of 2

noun

opi·ate ˈō-pē-ət

-ˌāt

plural opiates

Synonyms of opiate next

: an alkaloid drug (such as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 4a(1)), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (such as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (such as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid sense 1

… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.—

The Economist

Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.—

Nicholas T. Zervas

Note: The use of opiate for substances that bind to opiate receptors but are not opium derivatives is often considered technically incorrect. Such substances are more commonly referred to as opioids. The word opioid itself was originally used only for these substances, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural, synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate receptors and has morphine-like activity.

: something likened to a drug that induces rest or inaction or quiets uneasiness

Operatic music is an opiate that lowers our critical guard and allows us to entertain views that our good liberal selves would disavow were they presented in naked prose.—

Paul Robinson

… the novel's real drug is the opiate of nostalgia. Richard, narrating the events at a distance of ten years, is still too in love with the friends to look at them with an even faintly critical eye.—

Ruth Franklin

opiate

2 of 2

adjective

: containing or mixed with opium

: of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate

opiate receptors

: inducing sleep : narcotic

: causing dullness or inaction

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

Noun Many see television as an opiate of the masses. a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people Adjective morphine is an opiate drug

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.

Noun

Army veteran Christopher DeSanto served in Iraq, mustered out with physical and emotional issues, and became addicted to opiates prescribed by a doctor. —

Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. 2024 And yet with fentanyl, the drug naloxone, if administered quickly enough, can reverse the effects of opiates and save lives. —

Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024

Adjective

In a video posted to YouTube Monday (Nov. 4), the producer tells this story alongside Jordan Hamilton, the CEO of Choice House, the Colorado addiction and mental health treatment center for men where Illenium (born Nick Miller) got sober more than a decade ago after an opiate addiction. —

Katie Bain, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024 Well, as Makena's investigation shows, for over a decade, he's been posting on Reddit about his use of a genuinely staggering range of drugs, including cocaine, various opiate derivatives, MDMA. —

Leah Feiger, WIRED, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for opiate

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātum, from Latin opium opium + -ātum -ate entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātus "soporific," from Latin opium opium + -ātus -ate entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of opiate was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opiate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun

opi·ate ˈō-pē-ət

-ˌāt

: a drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is made from opium, tends to cause sleep and relieve pain, and causes physical and psychological dependence and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

broadly : opioid

: something restful or soothing

the opiate of sleep

opiate

2 of 2 adjective

: containing or mixed with opium

: of, relating to, or being an opiate

: causing sleep

: causing dullness or idleness

Medical Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun

opi·ate ˈō-pē-ət

-ˌāt

: an alkaloid drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 1), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid

… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.—

The Economist

Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.—

Nicholas T. Zervas

opiate

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being opium or an opium derivative

: of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate

opiate receptors

Last Updated: 4 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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opiate

noun

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near opiate

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition