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

This solid resin, used to embalm the dead and as a painkiller (mixed with wine), poignantly foreshadowed Jesus' sacrificial destiny. —Nadia Cantú, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026

This type is directly caused by an underlying health condition, like kidney disease or sleep apnea, or taking medications, like certain painkillers or birth control pills. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 18 Dec. 2025

Tylenol with codeine, for example, is considered a Schedule III drug, as are certain other prescription drugs like Valium, painkillers, appetite suppressants, and some steroid and hormone medications. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 18 Dec. 2025

The money is intended to repair the damage caused by prescription painkillers that helped fuel a generational crisis. —Kelly Puente, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Dec. 2025

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