painkiller

noun

pain·​kill·​er ˈpān-ˌki-lər 

variants or less commonly pain-killer

: something (such as a drug) that relieves pain

pain-killing

ˈpān-ˌki-liŋ 

adjective

or painkilling

Synonyms of painkiller

• sedative
• analgesic
• tranquilizer

Examples of painkiller in a Sentence

I took some over-the-counter painkillers for my headache.

after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller

Recent Examples on the Web

The medication schedule was pretty straightforward; everything had been crossed off but the painkiller. —Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

This is unlike most drugs manufactured in India, such as painkillers and antibiotics. —Priyanka Salve,elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026

Antibiotics and painkillers brought temporary relief, but the symptoms kept returning over the following years. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026

Between 2021 and 2022, Reese allegedly received more than $70,000 from Alireza Moheb, a Lafayette dentist who in 2023 pleaded guilty to trading painkiller prescriptions to drug dealers in East Contra Costa for cocaine. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for painkiller

• basilar
• distiller
• biller
• chiller
• driller
• filler
• hilar
• hiller
• killer
• pillar
• quiller
• siller

Kids Definition

painkiller

noun

pain·​kill·​er ˈpān-ˌkil-ər 

: something (as a drug) that relieves pain

painkilling

-iŋ 

adjective

Medical Definition

painkiller

noun

pain·​kill·​er -ˌkil-ər 

: something (as a drug) that relieves pain

painkilling

-iŋ 

adjective