as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller

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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 Residents often receive combinations of painkillers, sleeping aids, decongestants and other drugs, many of which were included in the study. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025 There are also concerns that taking ginger with strong painkillers such as morphine may intensify the drug’s effects. Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2025 Though endorphins are just one of several types of protein molecules with this painkiller quality, the word is often used to refer to them collectively. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025 Clune observes the beginning of the opioid crisis, when prescription painkillers flooded the country and led to millions of people becoming addicted to heroin and fentanyl. Emily Witt, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
  • At higher doses, kratom can be used as a sedative and potentially cause psychosis.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Yet, unlike cortisol, oxytocin will have an effect on your body akin to that of a sedative.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for chronic pain indications, potentially influencing investment and development priorities in the pharmaceutical industry.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Its pill, called Tonyma, is a nonopioid analgesic designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Jacintha, a horseback rider, was familiar with ketamine as a horse tranquilizer but had never heard of it as a last-stop mental health treatment for treatment-resistant patients like Lucy, who was diagnosed with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The program tests for various drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other opioids, as well as xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that authorities have warned is increasingly being found mixed in with other drugs.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkiller. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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