as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tranquilizer
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sedative
Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Micron has come a long way since its humble founding nearly half a century ago in the basement of a Boise dental office, where sedative gas wafted through the floorboards and an early executive used a hair dryer to keep the company’s logo from smearing off its chips.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Curry was injected with an unknown substance, likely a sedative, by EMS.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Adjective
In high doses, users report sedative effects, according to a Department of Justice fact sheet.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Micron has come a long way since its humble founding nearly half a century ago in the basement of a Boise dental office, where sedative gas wafted through the floorboards and an early executive used a hair dryer to keep the company’s logo from smearing off its chips.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
The wrecked car was overturned with the nude model sleeping inside—playing dead with help from a mild sedative.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Curry was injected with an unknown substance, likely a sedative, by EMS.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedative
Adjective
-
Cozy Winter Lodging Any winter adventure is best capped off by a relaxing evening back at your cabin or resort.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Self-driving cars are operating commercially in some cities, and a relaxing, productive commute in an autonomous car competes for the same customer an eVTOL is trying to attract.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the tranquilizer kicked in, the bear climbed higher into the tree before stumbling down a branch, eventually losing its grip completely and falling into the net.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Fentanyl in street drugs is in some cases being mixed with or supplemented by dangerous alternatives, including the animal tranquilizer medetomidine and cychlorphine, an emergent synthetic opioid that carries an extreme risk of overdose.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One approach to the treatment of pain, almost regardless of its cause, has gained both acceptance and notoriety: the use of opioids, or narcotic analgesics.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Here's what to know about the medication, a powerful painkiller that belongs to a group of medicines called opioid analgesics.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For designer Anita Yokota, Benjamin Moore’s Smoky Blue is a standout—a soothing, nature-nodding hue that soothes on sight.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Save your hammam for the evening and head straight to bed afterwards for the most comforting results.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There is something comforting, to me, about this churn of champions and challengers.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The novel delivers all the frenzy of a gold rush with rhythmic, hypnotic prose.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Whether built as a hypnotic, recurring shape, a rampant contagion or both, music this uncompromising and unpredictable always carries a message for those who need to hear it.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sedative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedative. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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