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Glite Dictionary
consciousness-altering drug

consciousness-altering drug

1 7.7
A drug that changes how you feel, think, or see things
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒnʃəsnəs-ˈɔːltərɪŋ drʌg/
  • NSFW
translation icon : droga psicotrópica
  • He warned about the risks involved with taking any consciousness-altering drug.

Examples

  • The use of a consciousness-altering drug can lead to changes in perception and mood.

  • Many people use consciousness-altering drugs for recreational purposes.

  • Researchers studied the effects of a consciousness-altering drug on cognitive function.

  • The consciousness-altering drug caused vivid hallucinations.

  • Many artists and musicians have drawn inspiration from consciousness-altering drugs.

  • Consciousness-altering drugs can change how we perceive reality and our emotions.

  • Some researchers study the effects of consciousness-altering drugs on mental health.

Synonyms

mind-altering drug
vsconsciousness-altering drug
  • NSFW
3 4.8

A drug that changes how a person thinks, feels, or sees things

focuses on altering awareness and sensory experience specifically
psychoactive drug
vsconsciousness-altering drug
  • Specialized
2 4.4

Something that changes how the mind works and so changes mood, behaviour and what you notice

is more about shifting awareness and sensory experience
psychoactive substance
vsconsciousness-altering drug
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A drug that changes how you think, feel or act

is narrower stressing effects on awareness and sensory experience
psychotropic agent
vsconsciousness-altering drug
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A chemical that changes a person's mood or thoughts

is the everyday term for altering mood and perception

How Mind-Altering

psychedelic
  • NSFW
1 7.9
consciousness-altering drug
  • NSFW
1 7.7
psychotropic
  • Specialized
9 8.8
sedative
  • Specialized
76 5.4
stimulant
  • Specialized
27 4.9

Surface Forms

consciousness-altering drug singular
consciousness-altering drugs plural

Morphology

consciousness-altering + drug

The phrase is transparently compositional: 'consciousness' (state of awareness) + 'altering' (changing) attached to 'drug' yields a drug that changes awareness, mood, or perception. This adjective–noun compounding follows normal English semantics and has close parallels in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Consciousness-altering drug is a name for a drug that literally alters a person's consciousness, like a switch or a new pair of glasses that changes how the 'mind' sees the world. So, it means a drug that changes mood, awareness, or what you sense.