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

• 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; 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

This kind of faith — shared by many faiths — is not an opiate or a self-help manual.

From Washington Post • Apr. 18, 2022

If sports don't trump religion as the opiate of the masses, they have, until recently, been at least the background music of most of our lives.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2020

Sir Peter was also criticised by family members of patients who died after being given opiate drugs at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1987 and 2001.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2020

The researchers created a hypothetical case of an African American man with sickle cell disease, a condition that typically requires opiate medications for control of painful flares.

From Slate • May 30, 2018

Both of them overburdened and ill-equipped, weak by nature or circumstance, married to strong-willed, selfish men, addicted to the opiate of sleep.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Related Words

• narcotic
• opium
• sedative
• tranquilizer