opiate

American  

[oh-pee-it, -eyt, oh-pee-eyt] / ˈoʊ pi ɪt, -ˌeɪt, ˈoʊ piˌeɪt /

noun

1. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used in medicine for inducing sleep and relieving pain.

   The opium poppy yields morphine, codeine, and other opiates.

2. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. any sedative, soporific, or narcotic.

   Back then, the country physician would concoct all sorts of opiates in a crude kitchen laboratory.

   Synonyms:

   drug

   Antonyms:

   stimulant

3. anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the feelings.

   His favorite opiate seems to be a six-pack in front of the TV.

   Synonyms:

   anodyne

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adjective

1. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. mixed or prepared with opium.

   Some opiate substances, such as thebaine, may be more toxic than narcotic.

2. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. inducing sleep; soporific; narcotic.

   Subjects were given a variety of opiate teas over the course of a four-week study.

   Synonyms:

   sedative

3. causing dullness or inaction.

   The opiate effects of their droning reprimands were legendary.

verb (used with object)

opiated, opiating

1. to subject to an opiate; stupefy.

   The violent patients were routinely opiated.

2. to dull or deaden.

   This dreadful music is opiating my spirit.

opiate British  

noun

1. any of various narcotic drugs, such as morphine and heroin, that act on opioid receptors

2. any other narcotic or sedative drug

3. something that soothes, deadens, or induces sleep

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adjective

1. containing or consisting of opium

2. inducing relaxation; soporific

verb

1. to treat with an opiate

2. to dull or deaden

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unopiated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of opiate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French, from Medieval Latin opiātus “bringing sleep,” equivalent to Latin opi(um) “poppy juice” + adjective suffix -ātus; see origin at opium, -ate ¹

Explanation

An opiate is a drug such as morphine or heroin that is derived from opium. Used figuratively, it means something that calms or soothes. Karl Marx famously said that religion was the opiate of the masses, which means he thought that it was religion that prevented working-class people from rising up against their leaders. Today, you might say that television has replaced religion as a mass opiate, but you'd need to say that during a commercial for anyone to pay much attention.

Example Sentences

Chad Sabora, the cofounder and executive director of the Missouri Network for Opiate Reform and Recovery, in St. Louis, is one of the region's leading voices for harm reduction.

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2022

The journalist Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, acknowledged this in an op-ed last year.

From The Guardian • Oct. 17, 2018

One company, identified on its website as Mitadone U4Life, promotes a product called Anti Opiate Aid Plus.

From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2017

The Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team must recommend lessons to the state Education Department by July 1, under the bill signed into law last month by Gov. John Kasich.

From Washington Times • Jan. 4, 2015

When there was a Tendency to a Diarrhœa, we were obliged to add some of the electuarium diascordii to the Cortex, and frequently to give an Opiate in the Evening.

From An Account of the Diseases which were most frequent in the British military hospitals in Germany by Monro, Donald

Related Words

• narcotic
• opium
• sedative
• tranquilizer