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narcotic

narcotic

125 6.6
A strong drug used for severe pain that can make a person numb and cause addiction
  • noun
  • /nɑrˈkɑtɪk/
  • NSFW
translation icon : narcótico
  • Many individuals struggle with addiction to narcotics, which can lead to serious health issues.
  • counter-narcotics
  • narcotics traffickers
  • narcotics traffic

Not only that, but I'm also a felon, narcotics addict, dealer.

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Examples

  • "Ladies, you're under arrest for the sale of narcotics, a federal offense," Dick announces.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Doctors prescribe narcotic pain relievers to help patients manage severe discomfort after surgery.

  • But the problem is narcotics are a huge money maker.

  • Somebody has some narcotics in their backpack.

  • As we suspected, it was laced with a narcotic that induces sleep.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Twenty-two to 30 years for possession, sale and distribution of narcotics.

  • Let us thank their Drug Enforcement Agency for their vigorous efforts to stem the flow of narcotics from South America.

  • The dog sniffed around the door and signaled to the officer that narcotics were present inside the home.

    Academic text (2017)
  • It seems the narcotics task force down in San Diego's got an open investigation.

  • I'm a narcotics cop.

Synonyms

drug
vsnarcotic
  • NSFW
1.9

A medicine or chemical that treats illness and sometimes changes how someone feels

is a specific kind that produces numbness, stupor, or addiction risk
opium
vsnarcotic
  • NSFW
65 6.9

A strong drug from poppy sap used for pain that often makes people addicted

is a class term for substances that cause numbness, stupor, or addiction
opioid
vsnarcotic
  • NSFW
33 5.1

A drug that eases pain by acting on the body's pain system and can cause addiction

is a broader category causing numbness or stupor as well as addiction risk
opiate
vsnarcotic
  • NSFW
31 7.2

A drug from opium used to relieve pain and make someone sleep

is any substance causing numbness, stupor, or addiction, not only opium derivatives
controlled substance
vsnarcotic
  • NSFW
22 5.1

A drug that the law controls because it can harm people or lead to abuse

is named for its physical effects rather than for its legal status

Antonyms

5.1

Causing the body or mind to become more active

Compounds

A United Nations group that oversees international rules and policies about drugs

narcotic antagonist
  • Specialized
6.1

A drug that stops the effects of strong pain medicines and helps breathing

How Dangerous

hard drug
  • NSFW
7 4.6
narcotic
  • NSFW
125 6.6
club drug
  • NSFW
1 6.5
recreational drug
  • NSFW
3 4.4

Surface Forms

narcotic singular
narcotics plural

Morphology

narcotic = narcot + ic

The segment 'narcot-' is a Greek combining form (not a standalone English word), so learners cannot reliably derive the meaning of 'narcotic' from its parts.

Etymology

Narcotic comes from the Greek root narke, which means 'numbness' or 'sleep'. So a narcotic is a drug that makes the body or mind feel numb or sleepy, which is why such drugs are used for pain and can also cause addiction.