Thesaurus results for OPIATES

opiates

noun

plural of opiate

as in narcotics

something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 opiates 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 Kratom helped Getz get work, build a life, and ultimately get off of opiates. — David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026 Because poppy seeds come from the same plant species used to produce opiates, consuming large amounts can sometimes lead to detectable levels of opiate compounds in urine tests. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2026 So far this year, alcohol has become EPICC’s leading referral category, followed by methamphetamine and opiates. — Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither? — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026 Offering 99 percent accuracy for five different drugs, this drug test has exceptional sensitivity for detecting opiates in urine. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 The illicit love story between the money launderer and the fentanyl trafficker working together to shower New England with deadly opiates came crashing down under the weight of a multi-year federal investigation. — Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026 Two weeks prior, Francisco Manzo had started detoxing himself from opiates and was still experiencing symptoms of acute withdrawal syndrome and had not slept well, the attorney said. — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for opiates

narcotics

Noun

Hunter Biden was found guilty on three felony gun charges that stemmed from his purchase and possession of a gun while using narcotics in 2018.

— Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Ecuador is considered to be a logistical hub for drug trafficking, where drugs are stockpiled, stored and distributed via Central American routes mainly to the United States, though narcotics are also shipped to Europe.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of narcotics

Browse Nearby Words

opiate

opiates

opine

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Opiates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opiates. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of opiates

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on opiates

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

balmy

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes