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narcotic

narcotic

155 6.6
A strong drug used for severe pain that can make a person numb and cause addiction
  • noun
  • /nɑrˈkɑtɪk/
  • NSFW
: 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
59 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
opiate
vsnarcotic
  • NSFW
30 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
24 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
opioid
vsnarcotic
  • NSFW
19 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

Antonyms

2 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
12 4.6
narcotic
  • NSFW
155 6.6
club drug
  • NSFW
3 6.5
recreational drug
  • NSFW
9 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.