painkiller
noun
pain·kill·er
ˈpān-ˌki-lər 
variants
or less commonly pain-killer
: something (such as a drug) that relieves pain
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
Alex also admitted in court in 2023 to taking more than 2,000 milligrams of painkillers daily, prior to the 2021 murders.
—
Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
The other trial compares the same proprietary cannabis elixir with opioids, revealing that patients who used the elixir experienced fewer gastrointestinal side effects like constipation than when using painkillers.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
The film chronicles Kerr's rise and peak, including his struggles with addiction to painkillers, roller coaster relationship with Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), and the lowest points of his career.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
The film is based on the real-life story of Mark Kerr, a former college wrestler who battled trauma and an addiction to painkillers during the early years of the UFC.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2025
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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Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
The other trial compares the same proprietary cannabis elixir with opioids, revealing that patients who used the elixir experienced fewer gastrointestinal side effects like constipation than when using painkillers.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
The film chronicles Kerr's rise and peak, including his struggles with addiction to painkillers, roller coaster relationship with Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), and the lowest points of his career.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
The film is based on the real-life story of Mark Kerr, a former college wrestler who battled trauma and an addiction to painkillers during the early years of the UFC.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2025
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 Oct. 2025.
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