1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
he used total immersion in his job as an anesthetic for the empty shell that his marriage had become
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in analgesic
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of anesthetic
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Iwamasa then injected Perry with the short-acting anesthetic.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
21 Jan. 2026
Perry died in 2023 at age 54 from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine with drowning a contributing factor.
—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Noun
The patient wouldn’t have had the benefit of modern anesthetics, but archaeological traces at other sites suggest Neanderthals knew about medicinal plants like chamomile and yarrow, as well as antiseptics like birch tar.
—
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Iwamasa then injected Perry with the short-acting anesthetic.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Adjective
Part of what makes leeches so effective at blood-sucking is that their saliva has uniquely anesthetic and anticoagulant properties, so they’ve been used for thousands of years for folk medicines in Asia and Eastern Europe.
—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
21 Jan. 2026
Perry died in 2023 at age 54 from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine with drowning a contributing factor.
—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
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In addition, a sedative such as diazepam (Valium) is often prescribed to reduce anxiety.
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The woman did a Google image search and concluded that the drug was stronger — Ambien, a prescription sedative, reads the complaint.
Noun
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The oldest defendant, 70-year-old Glenn Middleton, is charged with firearm and narcotics offenses and accused of storing items used in the conspiracy.
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The seizures added up to about 420 grams of cocaine, $2,291 in cash, a rifle, four pistols, various magazines and ammunition, and digital scales and packaging materials believed to be used in narcotics distribution, the sheriff's office said.
Adjective
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The compounds in kratom show promise for their analgesic properties.
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The classic pisco sour is unmissable, as is the island cocktail made with pisco, eucalyptus syrup, and wild murta, a local antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic berry used by indigenous communities in traditional medicine and food.
Noun
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In the 1950s and ’60s, the tranquilizer Miltown was widely prescribed to housewives for anxiety and stress.
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On Tuesday afternoon, the bear was found on a private property and shot by a veterinarian with a tranquilizer gun, city official Ryuhei Irie said.
Adjective
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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.
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The drink is known for its mild euphoria and depressant effects.
Noun
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In 2020, O'Neal had a near-fatal stroke after overdosing on morphine, opiates and pain medication.
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Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither?
Adjective
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There’s something hypnotic and ritualistic in it, something that can become almost shamanic, almost therapeutic — like a sound bath.
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Instrumental rock music of the kind Horse Lords make—hypnotic, hyper-focused, complex—usually carries a whiff of manifesto, offering a map toward transcendence of some political, metaphysical, or pick-your-variety kind.
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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