soporific

American  

[sop-uh-rif-ik, soh-puh-] / ˌsɒp əˈrɪf ɪk, ˌsoʊ pə- /

adjective

1. causing or tending to cause sleep.

2. pertaining to or characterized by sleep or sleepiness; sleepy; drowsy.

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noun

1. something that causes sleep, as a medicine or drug.

soporific British  

/ ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk /

adjective

1. inducing sleep

2. drowsy; sleepy

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noun

1. a drug or other agent that induces sleep

Other Word Forms

• antisoporific adjective
• nonsoporific adjective
• soporifically adverb
• unsoporific adjective

Etymology

Origin of soporific

1655–65; < Latin sopor sopor + -i- + -fic; compare French soporifique

Example Sentences

So what would a survivor of a crime portrayed on “Forensic Files” think about his or her own personal tragedy being used as a soporific?

From The Wall Street Journal

Shimizu is an exploratory jazz musician who has of late gained popularity for his television scores and inoffensively ambient music that employs soporific electronics.

From Los Angeles Times

For all that the occasional grand prix can be soporific, and for all many drivers expect this one to be, a race can go awry in many more ways than it can go well.

From BBC

The sell-out race, which sees around 300,000 fans gather in north-west France, was a soporific event in 2025, with fewer incidents and accidents between the 62 cars which began the race than usual.

From BBC

The change has been introduced after a soporific race in 2024 that followed years of growing concerns about the tendency towards uneventful grands prix on the historic streets on the Cote d'Azur.

From BBC