cultural barbiturate

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Synonym of television.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Why should so much of television be a cultural barbiturate, a tranquilizer for the ills and anxieties of our age?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cultural barbiturate” mean?

Synonym of television.

Is “cultural barbiturate” formal or informal?

cultural barbiturate is generally derogatory, slang.