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 She was institutionalized three times in 2019, and developed an addiction to painkillers. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024 Sill’s attorney Jack Earley told jurors that Susann had been suffering from a migraine and had painkillers in her system, which could have left her disoriented. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Once head pain begins, Macgregor suggests taking painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen as early as possible. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 Melissa especially recommends painkillers and at-home treatments for Bali Belly (think antiemetic drugs, a diarrhea treatment such as Imodium, and oral rehydration sachets). Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 Common over-the-counter painkillers are usually effective on COVID headaches. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 20 Jan. 2024 Syringes of the opioid painkiller fentanyl are shown in an inpatient pharmacy on June 1, 2018, in Salt Lake City. CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024 In 2003, an international team of conservationists determined, in part by studying the vultures that Chaudhry had collected, that a veterinary painkiller was to blame. Meera Subramanian, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024 Gayles’ ruling came after he was found guilty in August of protecting a ring of Hialeah painkiller peddlers who were under investigation by his agency, Health and Human Services, and the FBI. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'painkiller.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of painkiller was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near painkiller

Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painkiller. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

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