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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

Christa Pike, 50, on Wednesday survived two lethal injections of pentobarbital, a drug that suppresses nervous system activity.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

Pike remained alive and was placed on a ventilator after receiving two doses of pentobarbital during the failed execution attempt.

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