tranquilizer

or tran·quil·liz·er

[ trang-kwuh-lahy-zer ]

noun

1. a person or thing that tranquilizes.
2. a drug that has a sedative or calming effect without inducing sleep.
3. antianxiety drug.
4. antipsychotic ( def 2 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of tranquilizer¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; tranquilize + -er ¹

Example Sentences

In the park, the medical outreach team handed out glass pipes and test kits that can detect fentanyl or veterinary tranquilizer in drugs before they’re consumed, possibly saving lives.

From Los Angeles Times

Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer which has caused chaos on the streets of Philadelphia, is now being found across the pond in bootleg codeine, tramadol, Valium and Xanax.

From Salon

In a drug supply already riddled with threats like fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer xylazine, “this gives us a whole other thing to worry about,” Godvin said.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the course of two years, they were shot with tranquilizers, blindfolded, antlers wrapped, and flown to staging areas where they were trucked to the North Cascades.

From Seattle Times

Brooklyn didn’t realize what had happened until she saw what was sticking out of his neck: a feathered dart from Reggie’s tranquilizer gun.

From Literature

Related Words

• opiate
• sedative