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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in analgesic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anesthetic
Mark Gurarie, Health, 27 Mar. 2025
Household Gods Bigger Than Money Marni Jackson Through a haze of anesthetic, a patient on the operating table recognizes her surgeon's voice.
—Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug, that contains psychedelic contents.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Noun
Topical Anesthetics Daily use of topical (applied to the skin) creams or gels that have an anesthetic (numbing) effect may help.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 27 Mar. 2025
Household Gods Bigger Than Money Marni Jackson Through a haze of anesthetic, a patient on the operating table recognizes her surgeon's voice.
—Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
An anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will typically administer the anesthetic propofol, which is a fast-acting drug that will knock you out immediately, but keep you out for only 15 minutes or so, says Salama.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug, that contains psychedelic contents.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
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Among the issues in the appeal is the state’s use of the drug etomidate as a sedative before other lethal-injection drugs are administered.—
Jim Saunders,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2025
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His career was dealt a blow in 2021 when he was convicted of illegally purchasing and using the sedative propofol.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Comedian and actor Paul Rodriguez was arrested after police allegedly found narcotics in his vehicle during a traffic stop on Friday night in Burbank.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2025
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Two have been charged in connection to narcotics trafficking, the office of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Friday.—
Bay City News Service,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
-
The analgesic drugs that are typically prescribed for short-term pain—such as following an injury or surgery—work by either reducing the inflammation that causes pain or changing how the brain perceives pain.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Sometimes, short-acting tranquilizers can help, but some of these same medicines can also cause sleepwalking.18 When sleepwalking is related to an underlying disorder or medication, treating that condition or switching medications may help.—
Ann Pietrangelo,
Verywell Health,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The Who played there in 1973, although during the concert, drummer Keith Moon passed out after reportedly taking horse tranquilizers.—
Daniel Brown,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The child also tested positive for exposure to opiates.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
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During a search of his vehicle, officers allegedly located an off-white powder substance which tested positive for opiates along with two other substances which tested positive for cocaine, police said.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Saltz: Lorazepam is in the class of medications called benzodiazepines, which is a depressant, and also sometimes referred to as a sedative hypnotic medication.—
Ben Tinker,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2025
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An unusual — and hypnotic — event is taking place at a lake in Northern California.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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For Sherman, with two master’s degrees and a Ph.D., the anodyne title of health scientist administrator masks a beyond-the-data devotion to patient safety.—
Michael L. Millenson,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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One clip documented the anodyne swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Rachel Levine, an admiral and a transgender woman, as an Assistant Health Secretary in the previous Administration.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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