NARCOTIC Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

narcotic 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of narcotic

as in relaxing

tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress some therapists believe that certain scents can have a narcotic effect on people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hypnotic

tending to cause sleep the lecturer droned on in a narcotic monotone that eventually had the entire class struggling to stay awake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

narcotic

2 of 2

something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have done

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of narcotic

Adjective

Candidates for the mysterious narcotic plant eaten by Odysseus’s men in the land of the Lotus-Eaters include the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and the jujube (Ziziphus jujuba). — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026 The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Keith Johnson, was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony vandalism, felony burglary, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, possession of another person's identifying information and probation violation. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026

Noun

The current and former high-ranking government and law enforcement officials are alleged to have partnered with the Sinaloa cartel to distribute massive quantities of narcotics to the United States. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026 His criminal record includes pleading guilty in 2021 to felony possession with intent to sell Schedule II narcotics, which resulted in a prison sentence of two years and nine months, court documents say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for narcotic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for narcotic

Adjective

The Spa The communal areas and treatment rooms at Life in Balance Spa underwent a top-to-bottom overhaul, so even a mani-pedi feels intensely relaxing.

— Jessica Ritz, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
There will be no relaxing weekend for Broncos coaches and front office executives.

— Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of relaxing

Adjective

Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist known for her hypnotic, repetitive polka dot artworks, died earlier this week at the age of 97.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Her hypnotic, unconventional works propelled her from near-obscurity to a place in the world’s most prominent museums.

— Juno Carmel, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hypnotic

Noun

Naltrexone was effective in keeping most patients off of opiates, the study found.

— Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026
Investigators said Summers was using his phone extensively before the crash, driving 73-75 mph, and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.

— Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026

Definition of opiate

Noun

Other monkeys, including some of the larger and more dominant macaques, had to be subdued with tranquilizer darts before they could be captured.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
The worrisome drug withdrawal popping up in jails A powerful tranquilizer has started to accompany fentanyl in the country’s illicit opioid supply, and jails are struggling to handle the drug’s excruciating, complicated withdrawal symptoms.

— O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 June 2026

Definition of tranquilizer

Adjective

Booze, black pepper, and leather accords give the note a sultry, noir bend, while white musks and soft florals transform vanilla into something comforting and cocooning.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
An improbable preparation that somehow manages to be immediately familiar and comforting, this cheeseburger fried rice is a little peek into all the fun going down at Agnes and Sherman in Houston, one of our Best New Restaurants of 2026.

— Nick Wong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of comforting

Adjective

Her pencil produced a soft scrubbing sound, filling the room with a sedative rhythm.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
But the police also caution that many stories involving scopolamine verge on urban legend, and confirm that most criminals use other sedative drugs to manipulate their victims.

— Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of sedative

Browse Nearby Words

narcosis

narcotic

narcotics

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Narcotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narcotic. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of narcotic

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on narcotic

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes