Sedative: meaning, definitions and examples

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sedative

 

[ ˈsɛdətɪv ]

Context #1

medical

A sedative is a drug that calms a person, reducing stress and anxiety. It is often used to help people relax or sleep.

Synonyms

calming agent, sleeping pill, tranquilizer

Examples of usage

  • The doctor prescribed a sedative to help the patient relax before the procedure.
  • She took a sedative before the flight to calm her nerves.
Context #2

describing effect

Having a sedative effect means causing calmness or drowsiness.

Synonyms

calming, sleep-inducing, tranquilizing

Examples of usage

  • The soothing music had a sedative effect on the baby, helping him fall asleep.
  • The warm bath had a sedative effect on her mind, easing her stress.

Translations

Translations of the word "sedative" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sedativo

🇮🇳 शामक

🇩🇪 Beruhigungsmittel

🇮🇩 obat penenang

🇺🇦 заспокійливе

🇵🇱 środek uspokajający

🇯🇵 鎮静剤 (ちんせいざい)

🇫🇷 sédatif

🇪🇸 sedante

🇹🇷 sakinleştirici

🇰🇷 진정제 (jínjeongje)

🇸🇦 مهدئ

🇨🇿 uklidňující prostředek

🇸🇰 upokojujúci prostriedok

🇨🇳 镇静剂 (zhènjìngjì)

🇸🇮 pomirjevalo

🇮🇸 róandi lyf

🇰🇿 тыныштандырғыш

🇬🇪 სედატიური

🇦🇿 sakitləşdirici

🇲🇽 sedante

Word origin

The word 'sedative' originates from the Latin verb 'sedare', meaning 'to calm'. The use of sedatives for their calming effects dates back to ancient civilizations, where herbs and natural substances were used to induce relaxation and sleep. Over time, the development of modern medicine led to the synthesis of synthetic sedatives for medical use.

See also: sedation.