sedative
Americanadjective
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tending to calm or soothe.
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allaying irritability or excitement; assuaging pain; lowering functional activity.
noun
adjective
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having a soothing or calming effect
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of or relating to sedation
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sedative
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (adjective), from Middle French sédatif, from Medieval Latin sēdātīvus; equivalent to sedate + -ive
Explanation
A sedative is a drug that calms you down. If a patient is freaking out about getting an MRI or minor surgery, the doctor might prescribe a sedative to chill them out. A sedative is anything that makes you sedate — peaceful, calm, tranquil. In medicine this word refers to drugs that relieve anxiety or tranquilizers that pretty much knock you out. But other non-pharmaceutical things can have sedative effects, like a soothing cup of tea or a relaxing glass of wine. The tryptophan in turkey is actually a natural sedative — that's why everyone is sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner!
Vocabulary lists containing sedative
The Great Gatsby
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"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury
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"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And patients may also be given medications after an episode including a type of antihistamine, but they have sedative effects that can cause more problems, such as falls.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
They administered a sedative before carefully detaching him and applying a tight bandage to the wound.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2025
He says he lives a "completely sedative life" away from his family and friends.
From BBC • Dec. 14, 2024
Prison officials have said they get the sedative pentobarbital from a compounding pharmacy whose identity is shielded by state law.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2024
“Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, mild sedative, mild analgesic. Blood purifier.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
