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Definition of tranquilizer

tranquilizer

/ˈtræŋ.kwəˌlaɪ.zɚ/
(UK: tranquilliser)
tran · qui · liz · er
Adverb:tranquilly
•
Plural:tranquilizers
•
Adjective:tranquil
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tranquilizer Lexical Profile

tranquilizer Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A medicinal drug taken to reduce tension, anxiety, or agitation, or administered to sedate a person or animal.

Example

"The wildlife veterinarian used a mild tranquilizer to safely relocate the injured bear."

2

American Any person or thing that has a calming, soothing, or pacifying effect.

Example

"The sound of gentle rain on the roof acted as a natural tranquilizer after a stressful week."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tranquilizer
Antonyms
View all antonyms for tranquilizer

• Nearby Words

tranquility
tranquilization
tranquilize
tranquilizer
tranquilly
trans
trans pecos copperhead

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 18th century by American physician Benjamin Rush to describe a restraining chair for psychiatric patients, and later applied in the 1950s to sedative drugs; derived from the verb tranquilize, ultimately from Latin tranquillus ('calm, quiet').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tranquilizer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tranquilizer
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