as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Williams and Long have spoken out at length about using cannabis for a variety of reasons, including for pain management over other painkillers that have been pushed in the past.
—
Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025
Buprenorphine also belongs to the same class of drugs as the painkillers and illicit opioids that have led to so much anguish in the first place, most likely causing many physicians to avoid it reflexively.
—Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Since coming home, the most troubled of them had turned to painkillers, alcohol, and even meth.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ non-opioid painkiller Journavx, which blocks pain signals sent to the brain at their origin.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025
Buprenorphine also belongs to the same class of drugs as the painkillers and illicit opioids that have led to so much anguish in the first place, most likely causing many physicians to avoid it reflexively.
—Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Since coming home, the most troubled of them had turned to painkillers, alcohol, and even meth.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ non-opioid painkiller Journavx, which blocks pain signals sent to the brain at their origin.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
-
Super Bowl reporter found dead had sedative in his system, police say Wife of powerful cartel boss wanted by U.S. is released from prison In: New Mexico Death Gene Hackman Alex Sundby Alex Sundby is a senior editor at CBSNews.com.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is used as a sedative in medicine.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC News,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Participants who’d been issued at least two acetaminophen prescriptions within six months – and not in combination with other analgesics like codeine – were defined as exposed to acetaminophen.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Dec. 2024
-
Importantly, the medication is not an opioid, which means that medical professionals now have an alternative to treating acute pain that doesn’t require using a potentially addictive analgesic.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Parker Posey is especially good as a homemaker, Violet Ratliff, who arrives with a cache of tranquilizers—these are soon being pilfered and swallowed by her husband, Timothy (Jason Isaacs), a businessman about to be exposed for fraud.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
15 Feb. 2025
-
He's been shot twice by bullets and other times by tranquilizer darts.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkiller. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share