Barbiturate (Noun)
Meaning
Organic compound having powerful soporific effect; overdose can be fatal.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The doctor prescribed a mild barbiturate to help the patient sleep after the surgery.
- Barbiturates were commonly used to treat insomnia and anxiety in the mid-20th century.
- The coroner's report confirmed that the cause of death was a lethal overdose of a barbiturate.
- She had been prescribed a barbiturate for her epilepsy, but it also made her drowsy during the day.
- The actress's death was blamed on a combination of champagne and a barbiturate, which she had taken to calm her nerves before a performance.