painkiller
noun
pain·kill·er
ˈpān-ˌki-lər 
variants
or less commonly pain-killer
: something (such as a drug) that relieves pain
Synonyms of painkiller
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
Cathy believes that Daveigh's addiction began when she was prescribed oxycodone and other painkillers after injuring her back in a motorcycle accident around 2016.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
The painkiller marked the beginning of a yearslong descent through addiction — from prescription opioids to methamphetamine, then heroin, and finally, fentanyl.
—
Jonathan Moens — Bellingcat,
STAT,
18 June 2026
In recent days, young Knicks fans have been made to digest from their dreary Boomer elders heavy doses of old-timey hoops lore, but mainly about the 1970 title series, featuring Willis Reed’s limping, yet noble appearance in Game Seven, his injured leg shot up with painkillers.
—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
The first is a multibillion-dollar request to build a next-generation production facility for consumer health products, such as over-the-counter painkillers.
—
Rita McGrath,
Harvard Business Review,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
The painkiller marked the beginning of a yearslong descent through addiction — from prescription opioids to methamphetamine, then heroin, and finally, fentanyl.
—
Jonathan Moens — Bellingcat,
STAT,
18 June 2026
In recent days, young Knicks fans have been made to digest from their dreary Boomer elders heavy doses of old-timey hoops lore, but mainly about the 1970 title series, featuring Willis Reed’s limping, yet noble appearance in Game Seven, his injured leg shot up with painkillers.
—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
The first is a multibillion-dollar request to build a next-generation production facility for consumer health products, such as over-the-counter painkillers.
—
Rita McGrath,
Harvard Business Review,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Cite this Entry
“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painkiller. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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