heroin
18 synonyms and 0 antonyms for heroin, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A highly addictive illegal drug made from morphine, known for producing an intense rush of euphoria.
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.
Etymology
Coined in German in the 1890s as Heroin, originally a brand name, built from Greek hḗrōs ("hero") plus the chemical suffix "-in." It was marketed as a supposedly "heroic," powerful cure for coughs and pain before its addictiveness became clear.
Full origin of heroin →Frequently asked questions
What does “heroin” mean?
The word “heroin” means a highly addictive illegal drug made from morphine, known for producing an intense rush of euphoria. In plain terms, a dangerous, highly addictive street drug derived from morphine.
How do you pronounce “heroin”?
“Heroin” is pronounced HEH-roh-ihn (/hɛəɹoʊ.ɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “heroin” in a sentence?
Here is “heroin” used in a sentence: “The documentary followed several people struggling to recover from heroin addiction.”
What is another word for “heroin”?
Words with a similar meaning to “heroin” include brown sugar, dog food, dugee, henry, muck and mud.
What part of speech is “heroin”?
“Heroin” is a noun.
Where does the word “heroin” come from?
The word “heroin” dates back to around 1890 and comes from German.
Is “heroin” a common word?
“Heroin” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between heroin and morphine?
Both are opioids, but morphine is derived from the opium poppy and used medically for pain, while heroin is made from morphine, is more potent, and is an illegal drug in most countries with no accepted medical use. Heroin is chemically processed from morphine.
What is the difference between heroin and heroine?
These are commonly confused because of their spelling: heroin is a highly addictive illegal drug, while heroine, ending in -e, is a female hero such as the leading female character in a story. The two words differ by one letter but have unrelated meanings.
What is heroin made from?
Heroin is made from morphine, a substance derived from the opium poppy. It is chemically processed to be more potent, which contributes to how addictive it is.
Why is heroin considered so addictive?
Heroin is considered highly addictive because it produces an intense, short-lived rush of euphoria that strongly reinforces repeated use. Physical dependence and tolerance also tend to develop quickly.