anesthetic

1 of 2

adjective

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

anesthetically

ˌa-nəs-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

anesthetic

2 of 2

noun

1

: a substance that produces anesthesia

2

: something that brings relief : palliative

Synonyms

Noun

• analgesic
• anodyne
• painkiller

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

Adjective

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

In one study, the topical anesthetic combination of hydrocortisone and pramoxine (found in some over-the-counter eczema lotions) was effective for short- and long-term itch relief.9 4. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 27 Mar. 2025

Noun

Prosecutors say Peñaloza Cabrera suffered lidocaine toxicity, a condition that occurs when excessive amounts of the anesthetic enter the bloodstream, which can lead to seizures, irregular heart rhythms and in severe cases respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025

Nevertheless, Wells’ failure inspired his former partner, Thomas Green Morton, to continue experimenting with anesthetics, this time using ether instead of nitrous oxide. —Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anesthetic

• pre-anesthetic

Rhymes for anesthetic

• alphabetic
• anaesthetic
• antithetic
• apathetic
• arithmetic
• cybernetic
• diabetic
• dietetic
• diuretic
• empathetic
• energetic
• geodetic

Kids Definition

anesthetic

1 of 2 adjective

an·​es·​thet·​ic ˌan-əs-ˈthet-ik 

: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia

anesthetically

-ˈthet-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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

ˌan-əs-ˈthet-ik 

1

: capable of producing anesthesia

anesthetic agents

2

: of, relating to, or caused by anesthesia

an anesthetic effect

anesthetic symptoms

anesthetically adverb

or chiefly British anaesthetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

anesthetic

2 of 2 noun

variants or chiefly British anaesthetic

: a substance that produces anesthesia