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Glite Dictionary
designer drug

designer drug

5 7.6
A substance made by chemists to copy an illegal drug and avoid the law
  • noun
  • /dɪˈzaɪnər drʌg/
  • NSFW
translation icon : droga de diseño
  • At the party, many teenagers were experimenting with a new designer drug that mimicked the effects of ecstasy.
  • new designer drugs
  • other designer drugs

Examples

  • "Designer drugs in particular are much more easily accessible and affordable in the suburbs."

    Academic text (1999)

  • Carter finds out that Romanos recently got into moving huge amounts of designer drugs.

    Blog text (4)

  • The search for possible legal substitutes for various psychotropic drugs led to the introduction of so-called designer drugs.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Reports indicate that much misinformation currently circulates regarding designer drugs, including the pernicious myth that such drugs are not addictive.

    Blog text (30)

  • These designer drugs, while created to mimic the effects of marijuana, are in no way "synthetic marijuana," which would by definition contain the actual cannabinoids that are in cannabis, not synthetic analogues that differ on the molecular level.

    Blog text (7)

  • Authorities are on high alert for a designer drug that has gained popularity among college students this semester.

  • Health officials are concerned about the rise of a dangerous new designer drug that bypasses legal restrictions.

Synonyms

mind-altering drug
vsdesigner drug
  • NSFW
3 4.8

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

is chemically modified to imitate banned substances while avoiding legal classification
recreational drug
vsdesigner drug
  • NSFW
3 4.4

A substance people take for pleasure, not medicine

is chemically changed to imitate banned drugs and to escape legal control
psychoactive drug
vsdesigner drug
  • Specialized
2 4.4

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

is chemically altered to mimic banned drugs and avoid legal classification
drug of abuse
vsdesigner drug
  • NSFW
1 5.8

A drug taken for pleasure that changes how you think and can cause addiction or harm

is altered mainly to copy controlled drugs and to avoid legal classification
psychoactive substance
vsdesigner drug
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A drug that changes how you think, feel or act

is specifically changed to copy illegal drugs and evade legal classification
research chemical
vsdesigner drug
  • NSFW
8.9

A drug sold for people to take with unknown effects and risks

is chemically altered to avoid legal classification while copying banned effects

How Experimental

research chemical
  • Specialized
7.1
designer drug
  • NSFW
5 7.6
chemical
541 3.2
pharmaceutical
  • Specialized
18 4.6

Surface Forms

designer drug singular
designer drugs plural

Morphology

designer + drug

A B1 learner who knows 'designer' (made/designed) and 'drug' would likely infer this refers to a specially created or formulated drug, so the general idea is accessible from the parts. However, the specific nuance — chemically modified to mimic banned substances and to avoid legal classification — is a technical/legal extension that is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, making the phrase only partially transparent.

Etymology

Designer drug uses the image of a designer who makes a custom product and a drug that is changed a little to be new and not yet illegal. That's why it means a drug made on purpose to copy another drug's effects while 'avoiding the law'.