1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anesthetic
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Iwamasa then injected Perry with the short-acting anesthetic.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2026
Part of what makes leeches so effective at blood-sucking is that their saliva has uniquely anesthetic and anticoagulant properties, so they’ve been used for thousands of years for folk medicines in Asia and Eastern Europe.
—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Noun
The patient wouldn’t have had the benefit of modern anesthetics, but archaeological traces at other sites suggest Neanderthals knew about medicinal plants like chamomile and yarrow, as well as antiseptics like birch tar.
—
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Iwamasa then injected Perry with the short-acting anesthetic.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Adjective
The singer's 2009 death was officially attributed to the legal anesthetic propofol.
—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2026
Part of what makes leeches so effective at blood-sucking is that their saliva has uniquely anesthetic and anticoagulant properties, so they’ve been used for thousands of years for folk medicines in Asia and Eastern Europe.
—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
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All Florida executions are carried out by lethal injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
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In addition, a sedative such as diazepam (Valium) is often prescribed to reduce anxiety.
Noun
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The oldest defendant, 70-year-old Glenn Middleton, is charged with firearm and narcotics offenses and accused of storing items used in the conspiracy.
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The seizures added up to about 420 grams of cocaine, $2,291 in cash, a rifle, four pistols, various magazines and ammunition, and digital scales and packaging materials believed to be used in narcotics distribution, the sheriff's office said.
Adjective
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The compounds in kratom show promise for their analgesic properties.
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The classic pisco sour is unmissable, as is the island cocktail made with pisco, eucalyptus syrup, and wild murta, a local antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic berry used by indigenous communities in traditional medicine and food.
Noun
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The worrisome drug withdrawal popping up in jails A powerful tranquilizer has started to accompany fentanyl in the country’s illicit opioid supply, and jails are struggling to handle the drug’s excruciating, complicated withdrawal symptoms.
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When Krem takes off in Kara’s spacecraft, a rusted hulk that’s like an interplanetary RV, and shoots her beloved dog Krypto with a lethal tranquilizer that will result in agonizing death in three days, Kara joins Ruthye on her revenge quest.
Adjective
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At the time of the 1998 murder-suicide, Brynn had cocaine, alcohol and a prescription anti-depressant in her system, The New York Times reported.
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The drink is known for its mild euphoria and depressant effects.
Noun
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So far this year, alcohol has become EPICC’s leading referral category, followed by methamphetamine and opiates.
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Once drug use crossed class and racial lines, the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act was passed in 1914, a federal law criminalizing the sale and use of opiates.
Adjective
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There’s something hypnotic and ritualistic in it, something that can become almost shamanic, almost therapeutic — like a sound bath.
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Instrumental rock music of the kind Horse Lords make—hypnotic, hyper-focused, complex—usually carries a whiff of manifesto, offering a map toward transcendence of some political, metaphysical, or pick-your-variety kind.
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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