analgesic 1 of 2

Definition of analgesicnext
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain the doctor prescribed an analgesic and rest for my injured knee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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analgesic

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of analgesic
Noun
Some studies suggest lemongrass has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 Dec. 2025 The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for chronic pain indications, potentially influencing investment and development priorities in the pharmaceutical industry. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
He was driven by the ambition to design the most potent narcotic analgesic possible. Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025 Even in the analgesic study, where traditional scales often failed or even showed misleading results (for example, participants reporting more pain after receiving an analgesic), the monetary measures correctly and significantly detected differences. New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for analgesic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analgesic
Noun
  • Chloral hydrate, a sedative, is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia and to relieve anxiety and induce sleep before surgery.
    Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
  • All Florida executions are carried out via lethal injection if a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
    CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Right before his death, Jackson had been given the powerful anesthetic propofol by his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026
  • The album’s ideal love is anesthetic, a script for surviving daily chaos and tragedy that doesn’t require reciprocation.
    Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As the tranquilizer kicked in, the bear climbed higher into the tree before stumbling down a branch, eventually losing its grip completely and falling into the net.
    Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Fentanyl in street drugs is in some cases being mixed with or supplemented by dangerous alternatives, including the animal tranquilizer medetomidine and cychlorphine, an emergent synthetic opioid that carries an extreme risk of overdose.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Hydrocodone is an opiate used in drugs like Vicodin.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Naloxone, the active drug in Narcan, is only effective on opioids and not on stimulants like cocaine, which would suggest the substance Dick used was adulterated with an opiate such as fentanyl.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • It’s meant to be like soda — kind of empty pop calories — to lull you into the seemingly anodyne sounds of the Saja Boys.
    Charlie Harding, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Still, there are moments in this mostly anodyne recap when Liza — who turns 80 on March 12 and has fought a litany of health problems — lets loose.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The race there begins somberly in the museum before runners bound up one flight of stairs into a hallway that leads into the main stairwell; from there, the steps settle into continuous, shallow right turns providing a repetitive, hypnotic cadence.
    Michelle Sinclair Colman, Curbed, 7 May 2026
  • Elevated rooms—some villas sit on stilts above the jungle floor, giving full treehouse vibes—offer total immersion within the thick, humid jungle, underscored by wild birds, hypnotic cicadas, and the swing of mischievous monkeys.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • At the time of the 1998 murder-suicide, Brynn had cocaine, alcohol and a prescription anti-depressant in her system, The New York Times reported.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The drink is known for its mild euphoria and depressant effects.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Analgesic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analgesic. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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