sedative
/'sedətiv/
Definition
Adjective:
- Having a calming or soothing effect: Describes something, typically a substance or action, that reduces nervousness, agitation, or excitement and promotes relaxation or sleep.
Noun:
- A drug or agent that calms a person: A substance used to reduce anxiety, nervous tension, or excitement, and to induce a state of calm or drowsiness.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- The doctor recommended a sedative tea to help with her insomnia.
- The music had a pleasantly sedative effect on the anxious audience.
Noun:
- The patient was given a mild sedative before the minor surgical procedure.
- Some over-the-counter sleep aids act as sedatives.
Advanced Usage
"Sedative-hypnotic": A class of drugs that induce sedation (drowsiness) and, at higher doses, can promote sleep (hypnosis).
- Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed sedative-hypnotics.
In a figurative sense: Used to describe something non-pharmacological that has a calming influence.
- The repetitive, monotonous sound of the rain was almost sedative.
Variants and Related Words
Sedation (n): The state of being calm or sleepy, especially as a result of a sedative drug.
- The patient was under light sedation during the endoscopy.
Sedate (adj. & v.):
- Adjective: Calm, dignified, and unhurried. (e.g., a sedate pace of life)
- Verb: To administer a sedative to. (e.g., The veterinarian will sedate the animal.)
Synonyms
- Adjective: Calming, soothing, tranquilizing, relaxing, soporific.
- Noun: Tranquilizer, calmative, depressant, anxiolytic (specifically for anxiety).
Related Phrases
Non-benzodiazepine sedative: A newer class of sedative drugs with a different chemical structure.
- Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine sedative used for sleep.
Sedative withdrawal: The physical and psychological symptoms that can occur when stopping long-term use of sedative drugs.
- Medical supervision is crucial during sedative withdrawal.
Related Idioms
- A sedative for the nerves: A common figurative expression for anything that helps calm anxiety.
- For him, a long walk in the park is a sedative for the nerves.
Adjective
-
tending to soothe or tranquilize
-
valium has a tranquilizing effect
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took a hot drink with sedative properties before going to bed
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Noun
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a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person
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