soporific
/ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌsɑːpəˈrɪfɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌsä-pə-ˈri-fik/ (ame, mw)
soporific — adjective
- soporificpositive
- more soporificcomparative
- most soporificsuperlative
1. making you feel very sleepy or sending you to sleep — especially of a sound, a r
making you feel very sleepy or sending you to sleep — especially of a sound, a room temperature, a medicine, or a repetitive activity that gently pushes the mind toward rest.
The steady hum of the train's engine had a soporific effect on Yuki, who dozed off before the first stop.
soporific effect + [emotion/state] on [person]
Grandmother's soporific chamomile tea always put Ananya to sleep within minutes.
soporific [noun] modifies a substance or thing that induces sleep
The afternoon lecture was so soporific that even the front-row students were struggling to keep their eyes open.
Dr. Olu recommended a soporific herbal blend rather than prescription pills for Fatima's mild insomnia.
Mei-Lin found the rhythm of the ocean waves soporific and fell into a deep nap on the beach towel.
- sleep-inducing
more literal and clinical; used especially of medications
- hypnotic
stronger medical term for drugs that produce sleep; also means 'mesmerising'
- somnolent
describes a sleepy state rather than something that causes it
- invigorating
causing energy and alertness
- stimulating
rousing the mind or senses rather than calming them
用法筆記
Used to describe something that actively causes sleep, not merely occurring while asleep. The subject is typically a sound, a substance, an activity, or an atmosphere.
常見錯誤
2. making your mind feel slow, dull, or less alert — not necessarily putting you to
making your mind feel slow, dull, or less alert — not necessarily putting you to sleep, but draining your energy to concentrate or think clearly.
Dmitri found the endless spreadsheets soporific; his focus wavered after just twenty minutes.
find + [noun] + soporific — mental dulling
The soporific heat of the tropical afternoon made everyone in the garden shed abandon their work.
A run of soporific committee meetings convinced Javier that office life was slowly numbing his brain.
Ingrid switched off the radio because the presenter's flat, soporific tone made it hard to keep driving.
- lethargic
describes the resulting state rather than the cause
- stupefying
stronger; suggests the mind is nearly numb
- enervating
suggests a draining of strength or vitality over time
用法筆記
This sense is about mental dullness or lethargy rather than actual falling asleep. The cause may be boredom, heat, monotony, or a tedious task. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 emphasises sluggish thinking, not necessarily sleep.
常見錯誤
soporific — noun
1. a substance — most often a drug — that is taken or given to bring on sleep.
a substance — most often a drug — that is taken or given to bring on sleep.
The doctor prescribed a mild soporific for Arun, warning him not to drive after taking it.
prescribe + a soporific — medical context
Elena refused the soporific the hospital offered, preferring to let sleep come naturally.
In the eighteenth century, laudanum was a common soporific sold without a prescription.
Björn's grandmother relied on a gentle soporific made from warm milk and honey mixed with valerian root.
Some herbal teas act as a mild soporific and can help regulate a disrupted sleep cycle without side effects.
- sleeping pill
everyday term for a pharmaceutical soporific in tablet form
- sedative
broader; calms without necessarily producing sleep
- hypnotic
medical term for a drug whose primary effect is sleep induction
- sleep aid
modern, softer term, includes non-drug remedies
- stimulant
a substance that increases alertness and wakefulness
用法筆記
More common in medical or historical writing than in everyday conversation. In casual speech, 'sleeping pill' or 'sleep aid' is preferred.