tranquilizer
/ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər ˈtran-/ (ame, mw)
tranquilizer — noun
1. a medicine that reduces anxiety or nervous excitement, helping humans and animal
a medicine that reduces anxiety or nervous excitement, helping humans and animals become calmer.
The vet gave Nala a tranquilizer before the long flight to Sydney.
medical use before travel: give [animal] a tranquilizer
Yuki took a mild tranquilizer after two sleepless nights in hospital.
common collocation: take a mild tranquilizer
The nurse handed Reuben a tranquilizer while doctors cleaned his wound.
Aylin asked whether the tranquilizer would make her too sleepy to drive home.
The zookeeper used a tranquilizer to calm the injured deer safely.
- sedative
close in meaning, but often stresses making someone drowsy as well as calm
- anti-anxiety drug
more specific medical term for medicine used to reduce anxiety
- sleeping pill
used mainly to help someone sleep, not simply to make them calmer
- stimulant
raises activity or alertness instead of calming someone down
文法句型
take a tranquilizer
give somebody a tranquilizer
用法筆記
Usually refers to a medicine given for short-term calming in medical, dental, or emergency situations. If the exact effect matters, speakers may choose a narrower term such as 'sedative', 'sleeping pill', or 'anti-anxiety drug' instead.