opium
/ˈoʊpiəm/
noun
- A powerful, addictive drug made from the seeds of the opium poppy, used in the past as a painkiller and now mainly used illegally.
- In the 19th century, opium was commonly used in medicines for pain relief.
- Doctors once prescribed opium to help patients sleep, but it was later found to be highly addictive.
- The illegal trade of opium has caused serious problems in many countries.
- Something that dulls the senses or makes people passive, often used figuratively.
- The government was accused of using propaganda as an opium to keep citizens from protesting.
- Some critics say that reality TV is the opium of the modern masses.
- He used video games as an opium to escape from his stressful life.