soporific

[ sop-uh-rif-ik, soh-puh- ]

adjective

1. causing or tending to cause sleep.
2. pertaining to or characterized by sleep or sleepiness; sleepy; drowsy.

noun

1. something that causes sleep, as a medicine or drug.

soporific

/ ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk /

adjective

1. inducing sleep
2. drowsy; sleepy

noun

1. a drug or other agent that induces sleep

Derived Forms

• ˌsopoˈrifically, adverb

Other Words From

• sopo·rifi·cal·ly adverb
• anti·sopo·rific adjective noun
• nonsop·or·ific adjective noun
• unsop·o·rific adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of soporific¹

1655–65; < Latin sopor sopor + -i- + -fic; compare French soporifique

Example Sentences

He talked about it in his soporific acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention:

From Salon

Musty retreads of Ibsen and Chekhov, besides being counter to the maverick spirit of their play, can be soporific endurance tests.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s so effective a soporific that most nights I struggle to read for more than 10 minutes, which is both satisfying and maddening.

From New York Times

The smell of incense — a combination of frankincense and myrrh — leached from every corner of the space, creating a somewhat soporific effect.

From Salon

He finished ahead of Alonso and Russell after a soporific race that provided little encouragement for those hoping for an exciting season, the longest in F1 history.

From BBC