as in dependence
a physiological need for certain drugs
an addiction to heroin
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of addiction
The public defender’s office has not said how or if its client’s mental health and addiction struggles will factor into the defense.
—
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Similarly, doctors are reluctant to prescribe opioid pain medication given the high risk of addiction, too long ignored.
—Hannah Kerman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2026
But as Presley would later admit, this furiously productive period can’t entirely be chalked up to a burst of divine inspiration; his most fruitful years also ran parallel to his opioid addiction.
—Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
And then there are the legal issues, with a number of social media addiction and youth safety lawsuits still inding their way through the court system.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for addiction
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Similarly, doctors are reluctant to prescribe opioid pain medication given the high risk of addiction, too long ignored.
—Hannah Kerman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2026
But as Presley would later admit, this furiously productive period can’t entirely be chalked up to a burst of divine inspiration; his most fruitful years also ran parallel to his opioid addiction.
—Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
And then there are the legal issues, with a number of social media addiction and youth safety lawsuits still inding their way through the court system.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for addiction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addiction
dependence
Noun
-
Trump’s first term was marked—and, in the view of those closest to him, limited—by its dependence on Administration officials who were, at best, skeptical of his aims.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
High oil prices strengthen the case for renewable energy and reduce dependence on volatile supply routes.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Addiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addiction. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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