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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of anesthetic
Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024
It's not recommended to use an OTC anesthetic for longer than a week unless your dentist recommends it.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 3 Oct. 2024
Tori Crowther, Allure, 11 Dec. 2024
Multimodal analgesia uses a combination of at least two medications or anesthetic techniques, each relieving pain through distinct mechanisms.
—Heather Margonari, Discover Magazine, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anesthetic 
Noun
Your healthcare provider may also offer a local anesthetic to numb the area around your cervix to make the process more comfortable.
Factors Affecting IUD Insertion Pain
How painful IUD insertion is varies from person to person.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024
It's not recommended to use an OTC anesthetic for longer than a week unless your dentist recommends it.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Some practitioners, like Dr. Soni, use a local anesthetic cream and ice on the area, others just go straight to injecting.
—Tori Crowther, Allure, 11 Dec. 2024
Multimodal analgesia uses a combination of at least two medications or anesthetic techniques, each relieving pain through distinct mechanisms.
—Heather Margonari, Discover Magazine, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
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Jolie’s ailing Maria finds comfort in a dangerous sedative called Mandrax, which causes hallucinations of a journalist pressing her to discuss her legacy.Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2025
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She was given medication as a sedative for her anxiety.Maya Miller, ProPublica, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Smith was sentenced to 57 months for the narcotics and firearm offenses and a consecutive 12 months for violating the conditions of his supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.Staff report, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2025
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President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to slap a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Canada, as well as Mexico, if the country does not clamp down on immigration and the trade of illicit narcotics.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Studies have shown that cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, may have powerful analgesic effects, which have led to growing interest in their use for chronic pain management, especially in patients who do not respond to traditional painkillers.Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025
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In the study, a team of researchers led by the neuroscientists Francis Lee at Weill Cornell Medicine and Anjali Rajadhyaksha at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University blocked the rewarding properties of opioids in mice while preserving the drugs’ analgesic effects.Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Following his 2017 indictment for marijuana usage, which remains strictly forbidden in South Korea, Seung-hyun overdosed on tranquilizers.Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Dec. 2024
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Today, some health researchers theorize there’s a silver lining in the presence of these dangerous tranquilizers.Maurice Tamman, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
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My group entered into the action in a ballroom setting where members of Conwell’s family were miming a scene about an addiction to opiates.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
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Natural forms of opiates and dopamine – key players in brain pathways that diminish pain and enhance reward – seem to be telltale ingredients of the elevated tails in our anticipation training program.Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In Waves takes audiophiles through angelic soundscapes, club-ready tracks, joyful beats, driving bass, hypnotic toplines and more.Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
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The hypnotic music, scents, and sounds of flowing streams set the tranquil tone.Sheryl Nance-Nash, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Indeed, a persistent criticism is that their artistic approach evades urgent issues in favor of abstract or anodyne statements.Travis Diehl, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
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The lobby, with its collection of elevators, scowling security guards and small glass turnstiles, is cold and anodyne.Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near anesthetic
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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