as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
the otherwise anodyne comments sounded quite inflammatory when taken out of context
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
as an anodyne for the stress and superficiality of the modern world, there's nothing better than reading a literary classic of substance and insight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of anodyne
Richard Meyer, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
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
Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020
To yield to the soft tyranny of transgender pronouns is to pretend that gender dysphoria is an anodyne lifestyle on which societal legitimacy should be conferred, not a psychological malady requiring compassion and psychological treatment.
—Josh Hammer, National Review, 27 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Adjective
The paintings do not sit well under this anodyne title.
—Richard Meyer, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
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
Noun
The result of all that rulemaking and political sensitivity is the anodyne Covid-19.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020
To yield to the soft tyranny of transgender pronouns is to pretend that gender dysphoria is an anodyne lifestyle on which societal legitimacy should be conferred, not a psychological malady requiring compassion and psychological treatment.
—Josh Hammer, National Review, 27 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodyne
Adjective
-
Allergens are normally harmless substances (often proteins) that can trigger the immune system to produce an allergic reaction in some people.1 Common indoor allergens include dust mites, mold, pollen, insects, rodents, and pet dander.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
17 Mar. 2025
-
But is what seems like a harmless habit inhibiting you from doing your best work?—
Maggie Gillette,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
After the arrest, a search of the apartment uncovered about 22,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, 10,000 methamphetamine pills and over 13 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as four pounds of xylazine, a veterinary sedative found in about 30 percent of overdose deaths in the city.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
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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
Noun
-
American firearms are ultimately part of the cycle of Latin-American narcotics headed north.—
Michael Loria,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
-
This submissiveness in the teen-aged mistress Cassidy has found addictive, like a narcotic.—
Joyce Carol Oates,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Similarly, The Church (1938) looks benign enough: a well-coiffed woman, seen from behind, ambles toward a little country chapel way down a dirt road.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Something as benign as a leadoff double might trigger an alarm inside him.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 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
-
This group of nerve cells also signals the release of one of the body’s naturally-occurring opiates, which often occurs after eating sugar.—
Stephanie Edwards,
Discover Magazine,
13 Feb. 2025
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Though less than 1% of fentanyl trafficked into the US comes from Canada, Trump has fixated on the prospect of opiates streaming in over the northern border.—
Max Saltman,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For now, vendors know their businesses are safe until July 1, 2026, as the market requires a one-year notice for closure.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article Last year was among the safest on the subway in over a decade, according to data presented by the MTA’s head of security Wednesday — the latest salvo in a war of facts and apparent disinformation with the subway system’s federal funding at stake.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In the final moments of last week’s episode, Hector Ayala, aka the hero White Tiger, was found innocent in his trial against the NYPD then shot and killed on the street by an unknown murderer.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
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Man Who Killed Meredith Kercher, Amanda Knox's Roommate in Italy, Is Freed from Prison Still, despite being declared innocent and freed, Knox says she was never allowed to fully live her life again.—
Gillian Telling,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anodyne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodyne. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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