methamphetamine
noun
meth·am·phet·amine
ˌme-tham-ˈfe-tə-ˌmēn 
-thəm-,
-mən
: a synthetic or semisynthetic compound C10H15N that stimulates the central nervous system, is used medically in the form of its crystalline hydrochloride C10H15N·HCl especially to treat attention deficit disorder and obesity, and that is often abused illicitly for its stimulant properties
… methamphetamine is a powerful addictive stimulant whose longtime consumers tend to suffer from paranoia, depression, hallucinations, and violent rages.—
William Finnegan
William Finnegancalled also meth, methedrine, speed
compare crystal methExamples of methamphetamine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That is a significant reversal from previous years, when street fentanyl and other toxic synthetic drugs including methamphetamines sparked an unprecedented surge in drug deaths.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 15 May 2024
Researchers drawing on both federal and local data have found substantial overlap in methamphetamine and opioid use: In L.A. County, for instance, a recent report indicated that in 2022, nearly half of overdose deaths among homeless people involved both methamphetamine and fentanyl.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for methamphetamine 
Brian Mann, NPR, 15 May 2024
Researchers drawing on both federal and local data have found substantial overlap in methamphetamine and opioid use: In L.A. County, for instance, a recent report indicated that in 2022, nearly half of overdose deaths among homeless people involved both methamphetamine and fentanyl.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for methamphetamine
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Cite this Entry
“Methamphetamine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methamphetamine. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
methamphetamine
noun
meth·am·phet·amine
ˌmeth-am-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn
: a drug derived from amphetamine that is often used illegally as a stimulant of the central nervous system
Medical Definition
methamphetamine
noun
meth·am·phet·amine
ˌmeth-am-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn, ˌmeth-əm-, -mən
: an amine C10H15N that is used medically in the form of its crystalline hydrochloride C10H15N·HCl especially to treat attention deficit disorder and obesity and that is often abused illicitly as a stimulant
called also meth, methedrine, methylamphetamine, speed
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