psychedelic

1 of 2

noun

psy·che·del·ic ˌsī-kə-ˈde-lik

: a psychedelic drug (such as LSD)

psychedelic

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being drugs (such as LSD) capable of producing abnormal psychic effects (such as hallucinations) and sometimes psychotic states

: produced by or associated with the use of psychedelic drugs

a psychedelic experience

: imitating, suggestive of, or reproducing effects (such as distorted or bizarre images or sounds) resembling those produced by psychedelic drugs

psychedelic color schemes

: of, relating to, characteristic of, or being the period of the mid- to late-1960's that is associated with the psychedelic drug culture

psychedelic rock

the psychedelic era/movement

… the "rainbow newspaper" of San Francisco that burst onto the psychedelic scene in 1966 …—

Don Lattin

… speaking of stereotypes, the illustrations reject any hint of a '60s psychedelic style …—

Steven Heller

psychedelically

ˌsī-kə-ˈde-li-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Did you know?

The most famous--or notorious--of the psychedelic drugs is LSD, a compound that can be obtained from various mushrooms and other fungi but is usually created in the lab. The other well-known psychedelics are psilocybin (likewise obtained from fungi) and mescaline (obtained from peyote cactus). How psychedelics produce their effects is still fairly mysterious, partly because research ceased for almost 20 years because of their reputation, but scientists are determined to find the answers and much research is now under way. Psychedelics are now used to treat anxiety in patients with cancer, and are being tested in the treatment of such serious conditions as severe depression, alcoholism, and drug addiction.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The drug became legal Jan. 1, 2023, though actual sale of the psychedelic can't begin until the state gives its stamp of approval to laboratories which will produce the psilocybin products and service centers where they'll be consumed. —

Laura Doan, CBS News, 8 May 2023 Oregon allows therapeutic touch during a session with the psychedelic, which can temporarily affect people's emotions and perceptions. —

Laura Doan, CBS News, 8 May 2023 Comedians and celebrities are featured in re-tellings and re-enactments of true experiences with psychedelics, while leading experts share facts and harm reduction methods. —

Selome Hailu, Variety, 30 Mar. 2023 According to the Global Drug Survey, most people who tune in to such music are already experimenting with classic psychedelics like psilocybin and acid. —

Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2023 This is one of the reasons Perry has devoted years to supporting veterans and bipartisan legislation for psychedelic therapy for veterans. —

Chloe Melas, CNN, 2 May 2023 Now, Lockery is studying how psychedelics impact worms’ behaviors. —

Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023 Indigenous cultures around the world have been using magic mushrooms and other psychedelics for thousands of years for emotional, physical, and spiritual healing. —

ELLE, 13 Apr. 2023 The image was created by a 31-year-old construction worker from the Chicago area who, after taking psychedelics, decided to create the images on Midjourney, a popular AI image generator, according to Buzzfeed News. —

Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2023

Adjective

Late-night sets from artists such as psychedelic jam band STS9 kept people dancingr well into the morning. —

Diana Leyva, USA TODAY, 19 June 2023 Participating in public life felt incredible, almost psychedelic. —

Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 17 June 2023 This becomes a repetitious spin cycle of psychedelic CG world-bending, flicking through an encyclopedic history of DC screen representation with a reverence that will have fans cheering. —

David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 June 2023 The parody’s answer to Saved by the Bell’s absurd caffeine addiction narrative is… the psychedelic power of smoking raisins. —

Paul Schrodt, Vulture, 23 May 2023 While its close relatives are known for their psychedelic effects, the hemp plant doesn't contain enough THC to produce the 'high' feeling typically associated with consuming cannabis. —

Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Mar. 2023 Located in the one-of-a-kind entertainment complex of Area 15, just off the Strip, Meow Wolf Omega Mart is a psychedelic art installation and an immersive mystery with clues and challenges. —

Tamara Gane, Chron, 21 Mar. 2023 Another thing to consider is how traditional behavioral psychotherapy will interact with psychedelic treatment. —

Greg Mayes, STAT, 13 Mar. 2023 For Atmos, Amber X. Chen explores the current psychedelic renaissance’s effects on environmental activism, and how hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and psilocybin, and ancient plant medicine like ayahuasca, can stir change within individuals — and ultimately galvanize social movements. —

Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 24 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'psychedelic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.