dope
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for dope, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — (informal) An illegal drug, especially marijuana or heroin.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use dope
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The "cool/excellent" sense is casual slang; avoid in formal writing.
Etymology
From Dutch doop, a thick dipping sauce, related to a verb meaning "to dip." The drug sense grew from thick, sticky opium paste; the "cool" slang sense is a later 20th-century development.
Full origin of dope →Frequently asked questions
What does “dope” mean?
The word “dope” means (informal) An illegal drug, especially marijuana or heroin. In plain terms, depending on context: an illegal drug, inside information, a fool, or (as slang) something excellent.
How do you pronounce “dope”?
“Dope” is pronounced dohp ([doʊp] in IPA).
How do you use “dope” in a sentence?
Here is “dope” used in a sentence: “Police found a small stash of dope in his jacket.”
What part of speech is “dope”?
Depending on how it is used, “dope” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “dope” come from?
The word “dope” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Dutch. From Dutch doop, a thick dipping sauce, related to a verb meaning "to dip." The drug sense grew from thick, sticky opium paste; the "cool" slang sense is a later 20th-century development.
Is “dope” a common word?
“Dope” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dope” have?
“Dope” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (informal) An illegal drug, especially marijuana or heroin.
Is calling something 'dope' a compliment?
Yes, as slang, describing something as "dope" is a compliment meaning it is excellent, impressive, or cool, as in "that jacket is dope." This positive adjective sense is informal and separate from the noun senses of dope, which can mean a drug, inside information, or a foolish person.
What is the difference between dope meaning cool and dope meaning a foolish person?
Part of speech and context separate them. As an adjective ("that's dope") it means excellent or cool, while as a noun for a person ("he's a dope") it means someone foolish or stupid. The admiring slang sense is positive, whereas calling a person a dope is an insult.
What is the difference between dope and dupe?
A dope is a foolish or stupid person, describing someone's lack of sense. A dupe is a person who is tricked or deceived by someone else, so a dope may act foolishly on their own while a dupe is fooled by another, which makes the two words not interchangeable.