painkiller

noun

pain·​kill·​er ˈpān-ˌki-lər How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
variants or less commonly pain-killer
: something (such as a drug) that relieves pain
pain-killing adjective
or painkilling

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The killer turned out to be diclofenac, a painkiller given to livestock that just so happens to be toxic to vultures. Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 11 July 2025 Here's a rather novel way to keep trash out of landfills: engineering biologists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a way to turn the common plastic used for disposable bottles into the popular painkiller paracetamol. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 29 June 2025 Makary compared the distribution of 7-OH to the early days of opioid prescriptions, before doctors understood the addictive nature of painkillers. Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025 Post-operative care is also well-covered, with antibiotics, painkillers, special shampoo, and other aftercare products provided. William Jones, USA Today, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for painkiller

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of painkiller was in 1849

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painkiller. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

painkiller

noun
pain·​kill·​er ˈpān-ˌkil-ər How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
: something (as a drug) that relieves pain
painkilling adjective

Medical Definition

painkiller

noun
pain·​kill·​er -ˌkil-ər How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
: something (as a drug) that relieves pain
painkilling adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on painkiller

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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