1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect
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2
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
he used total immersion in his job as an anesthetic for the empty shell that his marriage had become
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as in analgesic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anesthetic
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
This combination of epinephrine and local anesthetic has captured his attention over the years.
—Pj Bremier, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
In one study, the topical anesthetic combination of hydrocortisone and pramoxine (found in some over-the-counter eczema lotions) was effective for short- and long-term itch relief.9
4.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Noun
The executioner who initiates the flow of lethal chemicals into Tanzi's body then enters the room to begin the state's three-drug protocol — beginning with etomidate, an anesthetic, followed by rocuronium bromide, a paralytic, and potassium acetate, which will induce cardiac arrest.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
This combination of epinephrine and local anesthetic has captured his attention over the years.
—Pj Bremier, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Adjective
To commit the killings, the doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic inducer and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their knowledge or consent, according to prosecutors.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
In one study, the topical anesthetic combination of hydrocortisone and pramoxine (found in some over-the-counter eczema lotions) was effective for short- and long-term itch relief.9
4.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
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Jeff Getting: The evidence introduced at the trial was … contained in the autopsy report, which didn't find any significant evidence of sedatives … But Kate Fox also testified that Linda had discussed ways of getting rid of her husband, including running him over with a car.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
20 May 2025
-
Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Corrections Department.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
16 May 2025
Noun
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He was expected to appear in court Wednesday on misdemeanor charges stemming from that incident; he was also being held on a previous felony charge of narcotics possession.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2025
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Holdgate was charged with three counts of violation of probation, two counts of first-degree failure to appear, two counts of second-degree failure to appear and possession of narcotics and was being held on a total of $345,000 in cash/surety bonds.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
One of the primary appeals of medical marijuana is its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Mercury News,
20 May 2025
-
The term is an adjective that has also become a noun, describing one of the most common analgesic procedures available in modern medicine.—
Stephen C. George,
Discover Magazine,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The amount of fentanyl appears to be dropping (see above), while the amount of animal tranquilizers, such as medetomidine and xylazine, is rising.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
24 Mar. 2025
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In 1980, Gallup asked whether Americans would object strongly to some presidential behaviors, including using tranquilizers occasionally (36% did), seeing a psychiatrist (30%), wearing jeans occasionally in the Oval Office (21%) and having a cocktail before dinner each night (14%).—
Karlyn Bowman,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
The child tested positive for fentanyl and opiates, officials said.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2025
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According to federal experts, fentanyl can be made cheaply and in large quantities in labs, and is far more potent than natural opiates like heroin or morphine.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Viewers will nonetheless find themselves under the series’ hypnotic hold.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
22 May 2025
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Ramsay, working with master cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, builds a world of images that’s hypnotic one minute and jolting you awake the next.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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The Trump administration has been relentless about scrubbing government websites of all mentions of climate change, no matter how anodyne, but this was gentle stuff.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
6 Apr. 2025
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Take something as seemingly anodyne as solving math problems, which can sometimes be a surprising weakness in LLMs.—
Steven Levy,
Wired News,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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