an·es·thet·ic
ˌa-nəs-ˈthe-tik 
1
: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia
2
: lacking awareness or sensitivity
was anesthetic to their feelings
1
: a substance that produces anesthesia
2
: something that brings relief : palliative
Examples of anesthetic in a Sentence
Noun
The doctor gave him the stitches without an anesthetic.
the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
To commit the killings, the doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic inducer and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their knowledge or consent, according to prosecutors.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Pj Bremier, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Around the world, some clinics are reconsidering what items can be reused or recycled, as well as beginning to phase out an anesthetic known as desflurane, one bottle of which is equivalent to driving a gas car 2,200 miles..
—Simmone Shah, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
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Adjective
But his career took a devastating hit in 2021 when he was convicted of regular, unprescribed use of the powerful anesthetic propofol.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
To commit the killings, the doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic inducer and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their knowledge or consent, according to prosecutors.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
This combination of epinephrine and local anesthetic has captured his attention over the years.
—Pj Bremier, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Around the world, some clinics are reconsidering what items can be reused or recycled, as well as beginning to phase out an anesthetic known as desflurane, one bottle of which is equivalent to driving a gas car 2,200 miles..
—Simmone Shah, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anesthetic. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anesthetic
1 of 2 adjective
an·es·thet·ic
ˌan-əs-ˈthet-ik
: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia
anesthetic
2 of 2 noun
: a substance that produces anesthesia in part or all of the body
Medical Definition
anesthetic
1 of 2 adjective
an·es·thet·ic
variants
or chiefly British anaesthetic
1
: capable of producing anesthesia
anesthetic agents
2
: of, relating to, or caused by anesthesia
an anesthetic effect
anesthetic symptoms
anesthetic
2 of 2 noun
variants
or chiefly British anaesthetic
: a substance that produces anesthesia
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