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
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Recent Examples of anesthetic
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death.
—Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Fred Schulte, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
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 Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office later attributed his death to an accidental overdose of ketamine, a hallucinogenic anesthetic that in recent years gained popularity as an off-label, unrelated treatment for depression.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death.
—Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The suit alleges that surgeon Dare Ajibade gave Easley an excessive amount of the anesthetic lidocaine during the 6½-hour procedure and failed to recognize persistent vomiting afterward as a sign of toxicity.
—Fred Schulte, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
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
-
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
Noun
-
The investigation allegedly found that Canada, Coley and others orchestrated the street level distribution of narcotics through other members of the conspiracy, officials said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Part of the movie is set in New York’s downtown clubland and Firstman uses all kinds of lingo to describe various narcotics.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
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.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Epibatidine intrigued researchers for decades and was once highly sought after as a potential analgesic many times more powerful than morphine.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Naloxone, the ingredient in Narcan, is an antidote for opioid overdoses, but because xylazine is not an opioid, the emergency medicine only stops the effects of fentanyl, not the tranquilizer, making those who overdose more likely to have lethal repercussions.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
In 2020, O'Neal had a near-fatal stroke after overdosing on morphine, opiates and pain medication.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
-
Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 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
Adjective
-
The prose is hypnotic, all the more so for its many digressions and parentheses, unveiling tiny set pieces like so many Fabergé eggs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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