opiate

1 of 2

noun

opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət How to pronounce opiate (audio) -ˌāt How to pronounce opiate (audio)
plural opiates
Synonyms of opiatenext
1
a
: an alkaloid drug (such as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 4a(1)), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use
b
: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (such as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (such as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid sense 1
… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.—The Economist
Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.—Nicholas T. Zervas

Note: The use of opiate for substances that bind to opiate receptors but are not opium derivatives is often considered technically incorrect. Such substances are more commonly referred to as opioids. The word opioid itself was originally used only for these substances, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural, synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate receptors and has morphine-like activity.

2
: something likened to a drug that induces rest or inaction or quiets uneasiness
Operatic music is an opiate that lowers our critical guard and allows us to entertain views that our good liberal selves would disavow were they presented in naked prose.—Paul Robinson
… the novel's real drug is the opiate of nostalgia. Richard, narrating the events at a distance of ten years, is still too in love with the friends to look at them with an even faintly critical eye.—Ruth Franklin

opiate

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: containing or mixed with opium
b
: of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate
opiate receptors
2
a
: inducing sleep : narcotic
b
: causing dullness or inaction

Synonyms

Noun

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

Noun Many see television as an opiate of the masses. a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people Adjective morphine is an opiate drug
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
These are among the heaviest of pharmaceutical opiates, pills normally prescribed to treat extreme pain in terminally ill cancer patients. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2024 Ann hadn’t yet met her husband, but Elgar had been hooked on opiates then, in a peeling duplex with musty mattresses barricading the windows. —Nicolette Polek, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024
Adjective
Troopers noted in the warrant affidavit, however, that the use of Narcan reversed Gomez’s respiratory arrest, which would indicate an opiate effect had been reversed. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2024 The one exception is opiate substitution for heroin addicts -- such programs work, and people stay with them. —Mark A. R. Kleiman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2011 See all Example Sentences for opiate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opiate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātum, from Latin opium opium + -ātum -ate entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātus "soporific," from Latin opium opium + -ātus -ate entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of opiate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near opiate

opianic acid

opiate

opiatic

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Opiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opiate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

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Kids Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun
opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət How to pronounce opiate (audio)
-ˌāt
1
: a drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is made from opium, tends to cause sleep and relieve pain, and causes physical and psychological dependence and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use
broadly : opioid
2
: something restful or soothing
the opiate of sleep

opiate

2 of 2 adjective
1
a
: containing or mixed with opium
b
: of, relating to, or being an opiate
2
a
: causing sleep
b
: causing dullness or idleness

Medical Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun
opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət How to pronounce opiate (audio) -ˌāt How to pronounce opiate (audio)
1
: an alkaloid drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 1), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use
2
: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid
… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.—The Economist
Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.—Nicholas T. Zervas

Note: The use of opiate for substances that bind to opiate receptors but are not opium derivatives is often considered technically incorrect. Such substances are more commonly referred to as opioids. The word opioid itself was originally used only for these substances, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural, synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate receptors and has morphine-like activity.

opiate

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or being opium or an opium derivative
2
: of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate
opiate receptors

More from Merriam-Webster on opiate

Nglish: Translation of opiate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about opiate

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