substances that have physiological effects when ingested or otherwise introduced to the body, especially those which are illegal or abused, medications or other substances used to treat or prevent diseases and medical conditions

hard drugs, recreational drugs, over-the-counter drugs

Formal and Informal Expressions of drugs

In different contexts, you can replace 'drugs' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'medications, substances' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'stuff, junk' is a commonplace synonym.

drugs: Explore its Definition & Usage

drugs Definition

1substances that have physiological effects when ingested or otherwise introduced to the body, especially those which are illegal or abused
2medications or other substances used to treat or prevent diseases and medical conditions

Using drugs: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "drugs" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He was arrested for possession of drugs.
Example
She is addicted to drugs.
Example
The doctor prescribed some drugs to help with the pain.
Example
The athlete was disqualified for using performance-enhancing drugs.

drugs Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for drugs

narcotics
substances
medications

Phrases with drugs

hard drugs
illegal drugs that are addictive and dangerous, such as heroin or cocaine
Example
He got hooked on hard drugs in college and has been struggling with addiction ever since.
recreational drugs
drugs that are used for non-medical purposes, often for their psychoactive effects
Example
She experimented with recreational drugs in her youth but eventually stopped.
over-the-counter drugs
medications that can be purchased without a prescription
Example
I need to pick up some over-the-counter drugs for my cold.

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Summary: drugs in Brief

The term 'drugs' [drʌɡz] refers to substances that have physiological effects when ingested, including illegal or abused substances and medications. Examples include 'He was arrested for possession of drugs.' and 'The doctor prescribed some drugs to help with the pain.' The term extends into phrases like 'hard drugs,' referring to addictive and dangerous illegal drugs, and 'over-the-counter drugs,' referring to medications that can be purchased without a prescription.