performance-enhancing drug
noun
: a substance (such as an anabolic steroid, human growth hormone, or erythropoietin) that is used illicitly to improve athletic performance
In the United States, more than 1 million elite and recreational athletes use performance-enhancing drugs for muscle building purposes.—
Josiah D. Rich et al.
Josiah D. Rich et al.…33 of the 48 major and minor league players suspended by baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs since the start of 2006 were pitchers.—Sean Gregory
Sean GregoryRoger Bannister, the first person to run a subpar four-minute mile, said today he thought that increased use of blood testing could help curb the use of performance-enhancing drugs by track and field athletes.—The New York Times
—abbreviation PED
The New York TimesExamples of performance-enhancing drug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gipson signed with Jacksonville but had to serve a six-game suspension for violating the policy on performance-enhancing drugs and was released without playing in a game this season.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Judge would be the only player to do it who hasn’t been tied to performance-enhancing drugs.
—Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024
In January 2008, she was sentenced to six months in jail for check fraud and using performance-enhancing drugs.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024
The former President has been bragging about his indifference to preparing for the evening, telling audiences that Biden has holed-up in a log cabin to rest up, is loaded up on performance-enhancing drugs, and getting favorable treatment already from debate moderators with CNN.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug 
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.
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Judge would be the only player to do it who hasn’t been tied to performance-enhancing drugs.
—Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024
In January 2008, she was sentenced to six months in jail for check fraud and using performance-enhancing drugs.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024
The former President has been bragging about his indifference to preparing for the evening, telling audiences that Biden has holed-up in a log cabin to rest up, is loaded up on performance-enhancing drugs, and getting favorable treatment already from debate moderators with CNN.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
Dictionary Entries Near performance-enhancing drug
Cite this Entry
“Performance-enhancing drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/performance-enhancing%20drug. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share