naloxone

na·lox·one
N1A1L1O1X8O1N1E1
UK/nəˈlɒk.səʊn/US/nəˈlɑkˌsoʊn/

noun

An opioid inverse agonist used to counter the effects of an overdose on opioids (such as heroin or morphine).

Similar
Narcan
OriginEnglish ketone ← German Keton ← Ancient Greek ῠ̔δρο- (hŭdro-) →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

nounnaloxone (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineAn opioid inverse agonist used to counter the effects of an overdose on opioids (such as heroin or morphine).

    Neffy uses the same spray device as Narcan, the naloxone nasal spray for opioid overdose, according to a spokesperson for its maker, ARS Pharmaceuticals.

    2024 August 9, Meg Tirrell, “First nasal spray epinephrine drug for emergency allergic reactions gets FDA approval”, in CNN

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna potent narcotic antagonist (trade name Narcan) especially effective with morphine

Similar
Narcan
Broader
narcotic antagonist
Also see
narcan

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishnal-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wed-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
  4. Proto-Hellenic*údōr
  5. Ancient Greekῡ̆̔́δωρ (hū̆́dōr)
  6. Ancient Greekῠ̔δρο- (hŭdro-)
  7. Englishhydro-
  8. Englishoxy
  9. English(hydr)ox(y)
  10. GermanKeton
  11. Englishketone
  12. Englishnaloxone

From nal- (“opioid receptor antagonist/agonist”) + (hydr)ox(y) + -one.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 納洛酮 /纳洛酮
  • 納洛酮 /纳洛酮 (nàluòtóng)opioid drug
Russian налоксон
  • налоксон (nalokson)opioid drug
Spanish naloxona
  • naloxonaopioid drug
Cite this entry
APA

naloxone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/naloxone

MLA

“naloxone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/naloxone. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “naloxone,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/naloxone.

Source: naloxone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.