Word
opioid
Phoneticsopi·oid
UK/ˈəʊpɪˌɔɪd/
Definition
n. a type of strong medicine used to reduce pain. These drugs can be very addictive and are often controlled by strict laws.
n. any of a class of substances that produce morphine-like effects by binding to specific receptors in the nervous system. Often used for pain relief but associated with high potential for dependence.
Examples
“The doctor prescribed a weak opioid for his back pain.”
“Public health officials are working to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions to prevent addiction in the community.”
“While synthetic opioids provide essential relief for patients with chronic pain, their potency requires careful clinical supervision to mitigate the risk of respiratory depression and long-term dependency.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor prescribed a weak opioid for his back pain.”
contextual
“Public health officials are working to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions to prevent addiction in the community.”
complex
“While synthetic opioids provide essential relief for patients with chronic pain, their potency requires careful clinical supervision to mitigate the risk of respiratory depression and long-term dependency.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural when referring to the class of drugs; often functions as a modifier in phrases like 'opioid crisis' or 'opioid epidemic'.
Real-World Examples
“A total of 11,744 opioid overdose deaths were officially recorded in rural Appalachia from 2000-2017.” “Ashburn says that it was when her parents started taking the opioid painkiller OxyContin that “things really spun out of control”.” Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/opioid