Narcotic: meaning, definitions and examples
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narcotic
[ nɑːrˈkɒtɪk ]
illegal drugs
A narcotic is a drug that affects the brain and body, often causing addiction and harmful side effects. Narcotics are usually illegal to possess or sell without a prescription.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| narcotic |
Often used in medical or legal contexts to refer to drugs that dull the senses and can cause sleep or bring relief from pain. It can have a negative connotation when referring to illegal use.
|
| drug |
A broad term that can refer to any substance used in medicine or recreationally to alter the state of mind or body. It can be neutral in a medical context or negative when referring to illegal use.
|
| substance |
A general term that can refer to any material, often used in a legal context to denote illegal drugs or controlled substances. It is neutral but can be negative when referring to illegal use.
|
| opiate |
Specifically refers to drugs derived from the opium poppy. It is often used in medical contexts but can also have a negative connotation due to its potential for abuse.
|
Examples of usage
- The police found a stash of narcotics in the suspect's apartment.
- He was arrested for trafficking in narcotics.
related to narcotics
Narcotic can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is related to or characteristic of narcotics or their effects.
Synonyms
addictive, drug-related, opiate-induced.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| narcotic |
Typically used in medical and law enforcement settings to refer to substances that dull the senses and can cause addiction.
|
| drug-related |
Used to refer to activities or situations involving drugs, often in a legal, medical, or criminal context.
|
| opiate-induced |
Refers specifically to effects or conditions caused by opiates, which are a type of narcotic drug derived from opium.
|
| addictive |
Used to describe substances or behaviors that cause dependence or strong cravings.
|
Examples of usage
- The narcotic effects of the medication made him drowsy.
- She was charged with possession of narcotic substances.
Translations
Translations of the word "narcotic" in other languages:
🇵🇹 narcótico
- droga
- anestésico
🇮🇳 नशीला पदार्थ
🇩🇪 Narkotikum
🇮🇩 narkotika
🇺🇦 наркотик
🇵🇱 narkotyk
🇯🇵 麻薬
🇫🇷 narcotique
- stupéfiant
- anesthésique
🇪🇸 narcótico
- droga
- anestésico
🇹🇷 uyuşturucu
🇰🇷 마약
🇸🇦 مخدر
🇨🇿 narkotikum
🇸🇰 narkotikum
🇨🇳 麻醉药
🇸🇮 narkotik
🇮🇸 eiturlyf
🇰🇿 есірткі
🇬🇪 ნარკოტიკი
🇦🇿 narkotik
🇲🇽 narcótico
Etymology
The word 'narcotic' comes from the Greek word 'narkōtikos', meaning 'making stiff or numb'. It was originally used to refer to any substance that induced sleep or numbness. Over time, the term became more specifically associated with drugs that affect the brain and body, leading to the modern definition of narcotics as addictive and harmful substances.