noun

fentanyl

FEHN-tuh-nihl

Fentanyl (noun) means a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller, far stronger than morphine, used medically but also widely abused and linked to overdose deaths. Example: “The hospital uses fentanyl patches for severe chronic pain.”

noun

A powerful synthetic opioid painkiller, far stronger than morphine, used medically but also widely abused and linked to overdose deaths.

"The hospital uses fentanyl patches for severe chronic pain."

"Illicit fentanyl mixed into other drugs has driven a sharp rise in overdose deaths."

How to use fentanyl

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA very potent opioid drug, legitimately used in medicine but notorious for its role in the overdose crisis when sold illegally.

When to use it

Frequently appears in both medical and news/public-health contexts.

Word forms

fentanyls plural

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The hospital uses _____ patches for severe chronic pain.

Etymology

A coined pharmaceutical name built from "phenethyl" and "anilide," reflecting its chemical structure.

Synonyms

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Frequently asked questions

What does “fentanyl” mean?

The word “fentanyl” means a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller, far stronger than morphine, used medically but also widely abused and linked to overdose deaths. In plain terms, a very potent opioid drug, legitimately used in medicine but notorious for its role in the overdose crisis when sold illegally.

How do you pronounce “fentanyl”?

“Fentanyl” is pronounced FEHN-tuh-nihl (/ˈfɛn.tə.nɑl/ in IPA).

How do you use “fentanyl” in a sentence?

Here is “fentanyl” used in a sentence: “The hospital uses fentanyl patches for severe chronic pain.”

What part of speech is “fentanyl”?

“Fentanyl” is a noun.