opiate

[ noun, adjective oh-pee-it, -eyt; verb oh-pee-eyt ]

/ noun, adjective ˈoʊ pi ɪt, -ˌeɪt; verb ˈoʊ piˌeɪt /

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See synonyms for: opiate / opiated / opiating on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

Biochemistry, Pharmacology. any sedative, soporific, or narcotic: Back then, the country physician would concoct all sorts of opiates in a crude kitchen laboratory.

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.

adjective

Biochemistry, Pharmacology. mixed or prepared with opium: Some opiate substances, such as thebaine, may be more toxic than narcotic.

Biochemistry, Pharmacology. inducing sleep; soporific; narcotic: Subjects were given a variety of opiate teas over the course of a four-week study.

causing dullness or inaction: The opiate effects of their droning reprimands were legendary.

verb (used with object), o·pi·at·ed, o·pi·at·ing.

to subject to an opiate; stupefy: The violent patients were routinely opiated.

to dull or deaden: This dreadful music is opiating my spirit.

OTHER WORDS FOR opiate

2 drug.

3 anodyne.

5 sedative.

See synonyms for opiate on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR opiate

2 stimulant.

See antonyms for opiate on Thesaurus.com

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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, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM opiate

un·o·pi·at·ed, adjective

Words nearby opiate

ophthalmometer, ophthalmoscope, ophthalmoscopy, Ophüls, -opia, opiate, opiatic, opine, opined, opinicus, opinion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use opiate in a sentence

Theranos claimed that it could perform a wildly large number of tests, such as measuring glucose levels and detecting different types of antibodies, or even marijuana and opiates.
How the FDA unwittingly helped Theranos dupe America|Ana Santos Rutschman/The Conversation|October 5, 2021|Popular-Science
Brundage’s husband started abusing his medications, especially his opiates, and getting extra pills from coworkers, which Brundage said she told the VA many times.
How the VA Is Pushing Vets Into the Opioid Abyss|Alexa Beyer|May 31, 2021|The Daily Beast
That’s why, the next month, after a cross-country move—when he went to an East Coast VA hospital for a pancreatic cancer screening and complained about his aching back—he was adamant that he not be given opiates.
How the VA Is Pushing Vets Into the Opioid Abyss|Alexa Beyer|May 31, 2021|The Daily Beast
Before the flight, he used heroin—and it was the last opiate he ever took.
Inside Ibogaine, One of the Most Promising and Perilous Psychedelics for Addiction|Mandy Oaklander|April 5, 2021|Time

So it was like Perc 30s and opiates that were someone’s prescription that we got.
The Opioid Tragedy, Part 2: “It’s Not a Death Sentence” (Ep. 403)|Stephen J. Dubner|January 23, 2020|Freakonomics
The three main types of medication for opiate withdrawal and recovery are methadone, buphrenorphine, and naltrexone.
Is Weed the Secret to Beating Opiate Addiction?|Tracey Mitchell, Abby Haglage|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The FDA approved Suboxone in 2002 to treat opiate addiction.
This Anti-Heroin Drug Is Now King of the Jailhouse Drug Trade|Daniel Genis|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although it is also used to control pain, it was created as a way to manage opiate addiction.
This Anti-Heroin Drug Is Now King of the Jailhouse Drug Trade|Daniel Genis|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For one, despite evidence to their efficacy, many insurance plans will not cover the costs of opiate replacement therapies.
I Detoxed from Heroin in Jail|Tracey Mitchell|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Without a complete overhaul of the opiate world, he worries it will continue.
America’s Oxy-Express Route to Heroin Addiction|Abby Haglage|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The hours wore on toward night, and Nita slept under the influence of an opiate administered by the maid.
They Looked and Loved|Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller
In spite of his groans and anguish, the old notary was insensible under the influence of an opiate.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng
It is here used by Milton as the name of an opiate and it is now occasionally used as a general name for drugs that relieve pain.
Milton's Comus|John Milton
He was evidently under the influence of a heavy opiate, for there was no sign of life, except the faint breathing.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, July, 1893|Various
What a marvelous opiate the ecclesiastics have been injecting into the minds of the masses!
The Necessity of Atheism|Dr. D.M. Brooks

British Dictionary definitions for opiate

opiate

noun (ˈəʊpɪɪt)

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

any other narcotic or sedative drug

something that soothes, deadens, or induces sleep

adjective (ˈəʊpɪɪt)

containing or consisting of opium

inducing relaxation; soporific

verb (ˈəʊpɪˌeɪt) (tr) rare

to treat with an opiate

to dull or deaden

Word Origin for opiate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

opiate

OTHER WORDS FOR opiate

OPPOSITES FOR opiate

Origin of opiate

OTHER WORDS FROM opiate

Words nearby opiate

Words related to opiate

How to use opiate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for opiate

Word Origin for opiate