as in dependence
a physiological need for certain drugs
an addiction to heroin
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Recent Examples of addiction
For years before his arrest, Nick struggled with addiction.
—
Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Importance of sharing story Bacos said Boutte's decision to share his experience is important as gambling addiction becomes more prevalent nationwide.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Naltrexone is available with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, such as a primary care doctor, addiction medicine specialist or psychiatrist.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Having struggled with addiction for years, Nick Reiner had been living in a guesthouse on his parents’ Brentwood property for several weeks.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for addiction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addiction
dependence
Noun
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Bolstering the state’s dependence on fossil fuels forces us to keep funding the destruction of our environment, health, and a civil democratic society.—
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The prescription opioid pill, called naltrexone, was first approved by the FDA to treat opioid dependence in 1984.—
Cite this Entry
“Addiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addiction. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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