narcotic
narcotic Lexical Profile
narcotic Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A drug or other substance that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes, especially one sold illegally.
"Customs officials inspect international cargo shipments to prevent the smuggling of illicit narcotics."
A medicinal drug, such as an opioid, that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep.
"Because the prescribed narcotic carries a high risk of dependency, it is only administered after major surgery."
Something that soothes, numbs, or lulls the mind into a state of complacency or dullness.
"Critics argued that endless mindless entertainment acted as a cultural narcotic that distracted citizens from civic issues."
• adjective
Relating to or having the properties of a drug that relieves pain and induces drowsiness, stupor, or insensibility.
"The physician carefully monitored the patient for any adverse reactions to the narcotic analgesic."
Tending to induce sleepiness, lethargy, or a dreamlike state of mental numbness.
"The warm afternoon breeze and the rhythmic sound of the waves had a narcotic effect on the readers on the porch."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict pharmacology, 'narcotic' refers specifically to opioids and pain-relieving drugs that induce sleep or numbness, whereas in law enforcement and everyday speech it is often applied broadly to any illegal psychoactive drug, including stimulants like cocaine.
• Rhymes for narcotic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'narcotique', via Medieval Latin from Ancient Greek 'narkōtikos' ('making stiff or numb'), derived from 'narkē' ('numbness, torpor').