barbiturate
noun
bar·bi·tu·rate
bär-ˈbi-chə-rət 
-ˌrāt;
ˌbär-bə-ˈtyu̇r-ət,
-ˈtu̇r-,
-ˌāt
nonstandard bär-ˈbi-chə-wət
1
: a salt or ester of barbituric acid
2
: any of various derivatives of barbituric acid (such as phenobarbital) that are used especially as sedatives, hypnotics, and antispasmodics and are often addictive
Examples of barbiturate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Next came Jimi Hendrix, a guitarist extraordinaire who overdosed on barbiturates in 1970.
—
Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Elvis was a longtime opiate user, having also abused sleeping pills, antihistamines, barbiturates and, lastly, laxatives to treat intense constipation caused by his prescription-grade painkillers.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2024
The barbiturates and pentobarbital used for the murder are real—just don’t get any ideas, OK?
Related: Wait, Was Dakota Fanning Pregnant in The Perfect Couple?
—Sophie Hanson, StyleCaster, 10 Sep. 2024
The drug is a barbiturate that depresses the central nervous system and causes the heart to stop.
—Tyler Spence, The Indianapolis Star, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for barbiturate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Elvis was a longtime opiate user, having also abused sleeping pills, antihistamines, barbiturates and, lastly, laxatives to treat intense constipation caused by his prescription-grade painkillers.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2024
The barbiturates and pentobarbital used for the murder are real—just don’t get any ideas, OK?
Related: Wait, Was Dakota Fanning Pregnant in The Perfect Couple?
—Sophie Hanson, StyleCaster, 10 Sep. 2024
The drug is a barbiturate that depresses the central nervous system and causes the heart to stop.
—Tyler Spence, The Indianapolis Star, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for barbiturate
Dictionary Entries Near barbiturate
Cite this Entry
“Barbiturate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbiturate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
barbiturate
noun
bar·bi·tu·rate
bär-ˈbich-ə-rət
-ˌrāt; ˌbär-bə-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət
-ˌrāt; ˌbär-bə-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət
-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌāt
1
: a salt or ester of barbituric acid
2
: any of various derivatives of barbituric acid (as phenobarbital) that are used especially as sedatives, hypnotics, and antispasmodics and are often addictive
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share