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pentobarbital

American

[pen-tuh-bahr-bi-tawl, -tal] / ˌpɛn təˈbɑr bɪˌtɔl, -ˌtæl /

noun

Pharmacology.

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

Etymology

Origin of pentobarbital

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

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.

See Examples For:

pentobarbital

She remained alive after two doses of the lethal sedative pentobarbital, which may have entered her arm tissue instead of her bloodstream.

From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026

The court filing described pentobarbital as a caustic substance that burns skin, tissue and veins.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

One court filing says Tennessee spent more than $1 million on pentobarbital for executions over two years, though it didn’t name the suppliers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

According to some outside medical experts, she likely “survived the procedure because the drug, pentobarbital, probably poured into tissue surrounding the insertion sites instead of entering her bloodstream.”

From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026

When the vet injected the sodium pentobarbital, Neil fluttered her eyes, assumed a nap position, and died.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023