sugar pill

noun

: a pharmacologically inert pill : placebo

Examples of sugar pill in a Sentence

Half the patients were given the medication and the other half received a sugar pill.
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.
Could a beneficial placebo effect be identified even when a patient was knowingly taking a sugar pill? — New Atlas, 22 Feb. 2025 However, in studies that compared SAM-e to a placebo (sugar pill), SAM-e wasn't found to be consistently beneficial.22 SAM-e is a relatively safe supplement. — Ashley Wong, Health, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sugar pill was in 1852

Rhymes for sugar pill

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Cite this Entry

“Sugar pill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sugar%20pill. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

sugar pill

noun
: a pharmacologically inert pill : placebo
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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