as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of painkiller The bacteria then produced special enzymes that interacted with the plastic molecule, transforming it into the painkiller ingredient. Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 His death was ruled an accidental overdose due to acute intoxication from a combination of prescription medications, including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleeping aids. Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 21 June 2025 In India, for example, vulture populations dropped by 95 percent from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, after ranchers started treating their livestock with the painkiller diclofenac. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025 If finalized, this settlement will add to more than $50 billion in opioid pay-outs by corporations that profited from manufacture, distribution and retail of opioid painkillers at a time when overdoses and drug deaths were skyrocketing in the U.S. Brian Mann, NPR, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
  • Kelson has learned to live in peace surrounded by violence, and chooses to subdue the infected with sedatives rather than slay them.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Sometimes, passengers combine sedatives with alcohol on a long flight, which can easily turn into an in-flight incident meriting an emergency landing and an arrest.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Turmeric may have similar effects to analgesics, medicines used to relieve pain.
    Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 18 June 2025
  • Not to mention, future science could also lead to an entirely different analgesic that functions better and with fewer downsides, Dr. Espey points out.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • She was charged for intentionally distributing a drug called Tranq — a mix of Fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer Xylazine.
    Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
  • The drug, which is commonly used as a tranquilizer for large animals in veterinary medicine, causes extreme sedation, slow breathing and skin ulcers when ingested by humans.
    Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkiller. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

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