pentobarbital

[pen-tuh-bahr-bi-tawl, -tal]

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a barbiturate, C 1 1 H 1 7 N 2 O 3 , used as a hypnotic and as a sedative.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pentobarbital¹

1930–35; pent- ( def. ) + -o- + barbital

Example Sentences

That review comes at a time when states have turned to pentobarbital due to a shortage of other lethal injection drugs.

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A federal court appeal focuses on how Missouri injects the fatal dose of pentobarbital.

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Pye, 59, is scheduled to be receive a lethal injection using the sedative pentobarbital.

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Prison officials have said they get the sedative pentobarbital from a compounding pharmacy whose identity is shielded by state law.

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Georgia executions are carried out at the state prison in Jackson by injection of the sedative pentobarbital.

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