an·es·thet·ic
ˌa-nəs-ˈthe-tik 
1
: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia
2
: lacking awareness or sensitivity
was anesthetic to their feelings
1
: a substance that produces anesthesia
2
: something that brings relief : palliative
Synonyms
Examples of anesthetic in a Sentence
Noun
The doctor gave him the stitches without an anesthetic.
the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect
Recent Examples on the Web
Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 18 May 2024
But the misuse of the anesthetic drug has spurred F.D.A. warnings.
—Ernesto Londoño Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 12 May 2024
Ketamine, for example, is FDA-approved for anesthetic use, which allows clinics to obtain it.
—Renée Reizman, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
It is known as a dissociative anesthetic or dissociative hallucinogen.
—Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the autopsy report filed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024
Ketamine is known as a dissociative anesthetic or dissociative hallucinogen.
—Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
So far, Chiller said, the authorities there are skeptical that the source of the infection is the anesthetic medicine itself.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2023
Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to an autopsy released Friday by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2023
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024
Throughout her career, Kate was involved in obstetrics, gynecology and anesthetics before moving to general practice.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
What is fentanyl? Fentanyl has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pain relief and as an anesthetic.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
It was meant to be funny, because of course cutting off the testicles of young hogs usually without anesthetic is a real hoot.
—Robin Abcarian, The Mercury News, 4 May 2024
Most executions were conducted with sodium thiopental as the anesthetic.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
Missouri Department of Corrections via AP, File Medication would be inadequate and if the procedure is necessary, Dorsey should receive a local anesthetic, said Megan Crane, another attorney for him.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has been medically used in both animals and humans as a short-acting pain killer.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
The list does not include coolers, painkillers, anesthetics or medical equipment, yet Nossair said everything from anesthesia to acetaminophen is rejected.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Those were the paralyzing squeezes beneath my sternum, all part of having the anesthetic fiddle with one of the nerves on my diaphragm.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 18 May 2024
But the misuse of the anesthetic drug has spurred F.D.A. warnings.
—Ernesto Londoño Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 12 May 2024
Ketamine, for example, is FDA-approved for anesthetic use, which allows clinics to obtain it.
—Renée Reizman, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
It is known as a dissociative anesthetic or dissociative hallucinogen.
—Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the autopsy report filed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024
Ketamine is known as a dissociative anesthetic or dissociative hallucinogen.
—Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
So far, Chiller said, the authorities there are skeptical that the source of the infection is the anesthetic medicine itself.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2023
Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to an autopsy released Friday by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2023
Noun
Ahead of an operation to revise the amputations of a quadruple-amputee, Kattan details the lack of anesthetics.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024
Throughout her career, Kate was involved in obstetrics, gynecology and anesthetics before moving to general practice.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
What is fentanyl? Fentanyl has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pain relief and as an anesthetic.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
It was meant to be funny, because of course cutting off the testicles of young hogs usually without anesthetic is a real hoot.
—Robin Abcarian, The Mercury News, 4 May 2024
Most executions were conducted with sodium thiopental as the anesthetic.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
Missouri Department of Corrections via AP, File Medication would be inadequate and if the procedure is necessary, Dorsey should receive a local anesthetic, said Megan Crane, another attorney for him.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has been medically used in both animals and humans as a short-acting pain killer.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
The list does not include coolers, painkillers, anesthetics or medical equipment, yet Nossair said everything from anesthesia to acetaminophen is rejected.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anesthetic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near anesthetic
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anesthetic. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anesthetic
1 of 2 adjective
an·es·thet·ic
ˌan-əs-ˈthet-ik
: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia
anesthetic
2 of 2 noun
: a substance that produces anesthesia in part or all of the body
Medical Definition
anesthetic
1 of 2 adjective
an·es·thet·ic
variants
or chiefly British anaesthetic
1
: capable of producing anesthesia
anesthetic agents
2
: of, relating to, or caused by anesthesia
an anesthetic effect
anesthetic symptoms
anesthetic
2 of 2 noun
variants
or chiefly British anaesthetic
: a substance that produces anesthesia
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