Ever since my recovery from the fever I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum; for it was by means of this drug only that I was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the preservation of life.
Source: wiktionary
Laudanum
/ˈlɔːdənəm/
Synonyms for "laudanum" (86 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (18)
Strong matches (25)
Related words (43)
morphiamorphinenarcoticnembutalnembutal pillopiateopiumpacifierpain killerparegoricpen yanphenobarbitalphenobarbital sodiumpurple heartquietenerrainbowredscagsecobarbital sodiumseconal
Show 21 more words
seconal pillsedativeshitsleep-inducersleepersleeping draughtsleeping pillsmacksodium thiopentalsomnifacientsoothersoothing syrupsoporifictartranquilizertuinaltuinal pillturpswhite stuffyellowyellow jacket
Noun(2 words)
opium solutionopium tincture
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: tincture of opium, alcohol, amobarbital sodium, amytal, amytal pill.
- Sentence evidence is available for laudanum, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "laudanum".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "laudanum"
Keep "laudanum" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "laudanum" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "laudanum", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "laudanum" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entriesCollocations
6 entrieslaudanum bottlelaudanum overdoselaudanum preparationlaudanum solutionlaudanum tincturelaudanum use
Inflections
1 entriesSample sentences
6 total sentences available.
Whatever else was wanting to a wise man's happiness, —of laudanum I would have given him as much as he wished, and in a golden cup.
Source: wiktionary
Whipping and abuse are like laudanum; you have to double the dose as the sensibilities decline.
Source: wiktionary
Laudanum, a derivative of opium, was the name given to a secret remedy concocted by the occultist Paracelsus, in the sixteenth century.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "laudanum"?
Closest matches include tincture of opium, alcohol, amobarbital sodium, amytal, amytal pill.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "laudanum"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.