DEPRESSANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does depressant mean? 

• DEPRESSANT (noun)
  The noun DEPRESSANT has 1 sense:

1. a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person

  Familiarity information: DEPRESSANT used as a noun is very rare.

• DEPRESSANT (adjective)
  The adjective DEPRESSANT has 1 sense:

1. capable of depressing physiological or psychological activity or response by a chemical agent

  Familiarity information: DEPRESSANT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEPRESSANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A drug that reduces excitability and calms a person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

depressant; downer; sedative; sedative drug

Hypernyms ("depressant" is a kind of...):

drug of abuse; street drug (a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction)

medicament; medication; medicinal drug; medicine ((medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "depressant"):

chloral hydrate (a colorless crystalline drug used as a sedative; irritates the stomach and can be addictive)

Doriden; glutethimide (sedative (trade name Doriden) used to treat some sleep disorders)

sedative-hypnotic; sedative-hypnotic drug (a sedative that depresses activity of the central nervous system and reduces anxiety and induces sleep)

Derivation:

depress (lower someone's spirits; make downhearted)

depressant (capable of depressing physiological or psychological activity or response by a chemical agent)

• DEPRESSANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Capable of depressing physiological or psychological activity or response by a chemical agent

Similar:

ataractic; ataraxic; sedative; tranquilising; tranquilizing; tranquillising; tranquillizing (tending to soothe or tranquilize)

narcotic; narcotising; narcotizing (inducing stupor or narcosis)

relaxant (tending to relax or relieve muscular or nervous tension)

hypnagogic; hypnogogic; somniferous; somnific; soporiferous; soporific (sleep inducing)

Antonym:

stimulative (capable of arousing or accelerating physiological or psychological activity or response by a chemical agent)

Derivation:

depress (lower someone's spirits; make downhearted)

depressant (a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person)

 Context examples 

A class Ia antiarrhythmic agent with cardiac depressant properties.

(Disopyramide Phosphate, NCI Thesaurus)

The synthetic dextro isomer of phenylalanine, an essential amino acid with anti-depressant and analgesic activities.

(D-Phenylalanine, NCI Thesaurus)

The drugs include painkillers, hormones, anti-depressants and antihistamines.

(Experts Warn Prescription, Over-the-Counter Drugs Polluting World's Rivers, VOA)

Exposure to this substance irritates the skin and mucous membranes, causes liver damage and acts as a central nervous system depressant.

(Hexachloroethane, NCI Thesaurus)

The pamoate salt of imipramine, a synthetic dibenzazepine derivative with anti-depressant activity.

(Imipramine Pamoate, NCI Thesaurus)

It also has a depressant action on the cough center and may be given to control intractable cough associated with terminal lung cancer.

(Methadone hydrochloride, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The hydrochloride salt form of phentermine, a sympathomimetic amine with central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and appetite depressant properties.

(Phentermine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A phenylalkylamine sympathomimetic amine with appetite depressant property.

(Phendimetrazine Tartrate, NCI Thesaurus)

However, it also causes sedation, physical dependence, and respiratory depressant effects and decreases heart rate and blood pressure.

(Buprenorphine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A phenothiazine derivative with depressant effect on the central nervous system.

(Acepromazine, NCI Thesaurus)