opiate

[oh-pee-it, -eyt, oh-pee-eyt]

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

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

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

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

• unopiated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opiate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of opiate¹

C16: from Medieval Latin opiātus; from Latin opium poppy juice, _opium

Example Sentences

Opioids and opiates - such as heroin and methadone - were the biggest contributors to fatal overdoses in 2024.

Read more on BBC

According to the Los Angeles County Medical-Examiner’s autopsy and toxicology reports, Rivera was 6 feet tall, 288 pounds and was under the influence of opiates when he was killed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Positive opiate drug screenings in the state’s prisons hovered at about 6% on average every month, according to data obtained by UnCommon Law.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What do you think would happen, I asked my daughter, a nurse practitioner who works in addiction medicine, if Narcan, the drug that reverses opiate overdoses, were suddenly to disappear from pharmacy shelves?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

According to UnCommon Law, positive opiate drug screenings in the state’s prisons hovered at about 6% each month on average.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• narcotic 
• opium 
• sedative 
• tranquilizer