tranquilizer
noun
tran·quil·iz·er
ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər 
ˈtran-
variants
or less commonly tranquillizer
1
: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (such as anxiety and tension) compare antipsychotic
2
: one that tranquilizes
Examples of tranquilizer in a Sentence
a patient who is on tranquilizers
Recent Examples on the Web
Ketamine is used in veterinary medicine as a tranquilizer.
—
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2024
Bracing against the freezing wind and the helicopter’s rough maneuvers, Langley fired tranquilizer darts from 120 feet in the air at his target: the alpha male of the Eagle Creek pack, known as Mexican wolf M1477.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024
Originally intended to be an animal tranquilizer, xylazine extends the euphoria for drug users but can also create skin damage so severe that amputation is necessary.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 8 July 2024
Despite being one of the most theatrically visible world leaders—shooting a tiger with a tranquilizer, say, or riding shirtless on a horse through the mountains—Putin is in fact a mysterious figure.
—Joshua Yaffa, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
See all Example Sentences for tranquilizer 
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2024
Bracing against the freezing wind and the helicopter’s rough maneuvers, Langley fired tranquilizer darts from 120 feet in the air at his target: the alpha male of the Eagle Creek pack, known as Mexican wolf M1477.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024
Originally intended to be an animal tranquilizer, xylazine extends the euphoria for drug users but can also create skin damage so severe that amputation is necessary.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 8 July 2024
Despite being one of the most theatrically visible world leaders—shooting a tiger with a tranquilizer, say, or riding shirtless on a horse through the mountains—Putin is in fact a mysterious figure.
—Joshua Yaffa, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
See all Example Sentences for tranquilizer
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tranquilizer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tranquilizer
Cite this Entry
“Tranquilizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tranquilizer. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tranquilizer
noun
tran·quil·iz·er
variants
also tranquillizer
ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər
ˈtran-
: one that tranquilizes
especially
: a drug used to reduce anxiety and nervous tension
Medical Definition
tranquilizer
noun
tran·quil·iz·er
variants
or chiefly British tranquillizer
or tranquilliser
: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (as anxiety and tension) see antipsychotic
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