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designer drug
noun
1
: a synthetic version of a controlled substance (such as heroin) that is produced with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid having it classified as an illicit drug
2
: a synthetic, therapeutic agent designed to have a highly selective mode of action so that effectiveness is maximized and side effects are minimized compared with existing therapies
Examples of designer drug in a Sentence
Ecstasy is a designer drug.
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s the driving force behind Synchronic, a movie in which a paramedic (Anthony Mackie) gets enmeshed in a mystery surrounding several people dying or being driven insane by an exotic new designer drug.
—
Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2024
The kids treat it like a designer drug, filming their hallucinatory freak-outs on their phones.
—
Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2023
Tommy and Claudia’s partnership to distribute the designer drug Dahlia never felt authentic, especially since there was very little trust between them.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023
Meanwhile, 12 of 15 samples sold as Adderall tested positive for other substances, including methamphetamine and, in one case, MDMA, the designer drug commonly known as ecstasy.
—
Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'designer drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1983, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near designer drug
Cite this Entry
“Designer drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designer%20drug. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
Medical Definition
designer drug
noun
de·sign·er drug
di-ˌzī-nər-
1
: a synthetic version of a controlled substance (such as heroin) that is produced with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid classification as an illicit drug
Los Angeles County health officials warned Tuesday against the use of bath salts—the designer drug involved in a series of bizarre incidents and arrests …—
Wesley Lowery, The Los Angeles Times
… the firm is involved in the illegal production and sale of MDMA, a designer drug commonly known as "ecstasy."—
Time
2
: a synthetic, therapeutic agent designed to have a highly selective mode of action so that effectiveness is maximized and side effects are minimized compared with existing therapies
In contrast to past trial-and-error discovery, we are starting to see designer drugs that target known sites on molecules implicated in disease.—
Nathaniel C. Comfort, The New York Times Book Review
Results of another dramatic prevention study zeroed in on raloxifene, a chemical cousin of tamoxifen, and one of the first so-called estrogen designer drugs.—
Patricia Guthrie, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Legal Definition
designer drug
noun
de·sign·er drug
: a synthetic version of a controlled substance (as heroin) that is produced with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid having it classified as an illegal drug
More from Merriam-Webster on designer drug
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about designer drug
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