1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anesthetic
Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
During your appointment, the healthcare professional will inject a local anesthetic to numb the area.
—Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2025
Troy Bedinghaus, Od, Verywell Health, 1 June 2024
However, medication involving the anesthetic, ketamine, has shown promise in recent years for treating these hard-to-resolve depressive symptoms.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Noun
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is used for pain relief and as an anesthetic, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration website.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
During your appointment, the healthcare professional will inject a local anesthetic to numb the area.
—Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
If monitored anesthesia sedation and local anesthesia are used, anesthetic medication will be used to induce drowsiness.
—Troy Bedinghaus, Od, Verywell Health, 1 June 2024
However, medication involving the anesthetic, ketamine, has shown promise in recent years for treating these hard-to-resolve depressive symptoms.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
-
In that maelstrom, several patients were given doses of sedatives that ultimately killed them, and Fink’s account revolves around those decisions and the criminal allegations that arose after the crisis.—
Heather Hansman,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Terry was found to have died of an overdose of insulin and the sedative promethazine, the medical examiner ruled.—
David K. Li,
NBC News,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
He was expected to appear in court Wednesday on misdemeanor charges stemming from that incident; he was also being held on a previous felony charge of narcotics possession.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2025
-
Holdgate was charged with three counts of violation of probation, two counts of first-degree failure to appear, two counts of second-degree failure to appear and possession of narcotics and was being held on a total of $345,000 in cash/surety bonds.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
The term is an adjective that has also become a noun, describing one of the most common analgesic procedures available in modern medicine.—
Stephen C. George,
Discover Magazine,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The analgesic drugs that are typically prescribed for short-term pain—such as following an injury or surgery—work by either reducing the inflammation that causes pain or changing how the brain perceives pain.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In 1980, Gallup asked whether Americans would object strongly to some presidential behaviors, including using tranquilizers occasionally (36% did), seeing a psychiatrist (30%), wearing jeans occasionally in the Oval Office (21%) and having a cocktail before dinner each night (14%).—
Karlyn Bowman,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
-
However, in some cases, such as capturing and restraining a wild animal to relocate it, workers use tranquilizers or sedatives to make the animal sleepy, or cover its eyes and ears to reduce fear and prevent long-lasting problems.—
Rachel Blaser,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Ventura said the hip-hop mogul was once addicted to opiates and overdosed in 2012.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
15 May 2025
-
Combs overdosed on painkillers in 2012, Ventura testifies Combs overdosed on painkillers in February 2012 and for a time had an addiction to opiates, Ventura testified.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the room with us in Valencia, the dolls eyes’ are hypnotic, carrying a trace of malevolence.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2025
-
Shot in the Colombian desert, this new film is nothing short of hypnotic.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Trump administration has been relentless about scrubbing government websites of all mentions of climate change, no matter how anodyne, but this was gentle stuff.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
6 Apr. 2025
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Take something as seemingly anodyne as solving math problems, which can sometimes be a surprising weakness in LLMs.—
Steven Levy,
Wired News,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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