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

But that’s not what happened in his story, where Rue was killed when her cover was blown, and her boss Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) gave her painkillers laced with fentanyl. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 June 2026

The season wrapped with the heartbreaking death of Zendaya's Rue Bennett, who overdoses on laced painkillers given to her by Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). —Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

In a 2014 interview with Louder, Stapp said that a confluence of factors contributed to the incident, including a car accident that resulted in an addiction to painkillers. —Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026

Alamo gives Rue painkillers laced with fentanyl. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 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