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 At one site in Lancaster, a 69-year-old man being treated for gangrene died after a nurse gave him a four-drug cocktail that included the painkiller Norco and the sedative Ativan, state investigators reported. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025 During the early 2000s, a neck injury sustained in a match led to a reliance on painkillers, which eventually developed into a serious addiction. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 Photo illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR When hit with a headache or fever, people often reach for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as their first line of defense. Andee Tagle, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025 One potential approach is targeting T-regs directly to increase the production of the painkiller enkephalin, which ultimately would benefit both women and men. Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
  • He’s injected with a sedative and wakes up in the book cage.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Dina was knocked out with a strong sedative, and Joel was shot in the knee.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Many NSAIDs and other analgesics are available in topical form, like creams or patches, and can offer similar relief without the potential side effects to your gut.
    Andee Tagle, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Peppermint Oil Peppermint oil is a topical analgesic that may help alleviate pain from tense jaw muscles associated with TMJ dysfunction.
    Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In 1980, Gallup asked whether Americans would object strongly to some presidential behaviors, including using tranquilizers occasionally (36% did), seeing a psychiatrist (30%), wearing jeans occasionally in the Oval Office (21%) and having a cocktail before dinner each night (14%).
    Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
  • However, in some cases, such as capturing and restraining a wild animal to relocate it, workers use tranquilizers or sedatives to make the animal sleepy, or cover its eyes and ears to reduce fear and prevent long-lasting problems.
    Rachel Blaser, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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