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Glite Dictionary
😴 Related to narcolepsy 😴 A person with narcolepsy 💊 A sleep-inducing drug
narcoleptic

narcoleptic

9.9
A drug that makes a person very sleepy and fall asleep
  • noun
  • /ˌnɑr.kəˈlɛp.tɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : soporífico
  • The doctor administered a narcoleptic to help the patient finally get some rest.

Examples

  • The doctor prescribed a narcoleptic to help him sleep better.

  • She was warned that the effects of the narcoleptic would last for several hours.

  • Certain medications may act as a narcoleptic if taken in large doses.

  • Is a narcoleptic safe to use for sleep issues?

  • The doctor administered a narcoleptic to induce deep sleep for the patient before surgery.

  • Some people use a narcoleptic to help them fall asleep quickly during long flights.

  • Before nighttime tests, the patients were given a narcoleptic to ensure they would rest adequately.

Synonyms

hypnotic
vsnarcoleptic
  • Specialized
1 7.1

A medicine that makes you sleep or helps you stay asleep

causes sudden uncontrollable sleepiness rather than planned medical sleep
soporific
vsnarcoleptic
  • Specialized
9.4

A medicine that makes you sleep

brings on an uncontrollable urge to sleep rather than merely causing sleep
hypnagogue
vsnarcoleptic
  • Specialized
9.9

A medicine or plant that makes you feel sleepy

triggers a much stronger, uncontrollable need to sleep instead of mild drowsiness
sedative-hypnotic drug
vsnarcoleptic
  • Specialized
5.4

A medicine that calms the brain, reduces worry, and makes you sleep

produces sudden uncontrollable sleep rather than general calming plus sleep aid

Antonyms

stimulant
5.1

Causing the body or mind to become more active

Surface Forms

narcoleptic singular
narcoleptics plural

Etymology

Narcoleptic comes from Greek parts narco- 'sleep' and -leptic 'attack', and a helpful way to remember this sense is to think of narcotic, a drug that makes you sleepy. So in this sense a narcoleptic means a drug or agent that causes strong, uncontrollable sleep.