anesthetic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of anestheticnext
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

anesthetic

2 of 2

adjective

as in analgesic

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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 anesthetic
Noun
The actor had been taking the surgical anesthetic ketamine legally for depression, an increasingly common off-label use. — Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026 He was later determined to have died from an accidental overdose of ketamine, which is a hallucinogenic anesthetic that has been used as a treatment for depression. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 27 May 2026
Adjective
The actor had been taking the surgical anesthetic ketamine legally for depression, an increasingly common off-label use. — Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 27 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 See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
  1. sedative
  2. narcotic
  3. analgesic
  4. tranquilizer
  5. depressant
  6. opiate
  7. hypnotic
Noun
  • Native to the Pacific Islands, its active compounds (kavalactones) act directly on the brain's GABA receptors much like a mild sedative and are typically used for acute anxiety or insomnia.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • All Florida executions are carried out by lethal injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Definition of sedative
Noun
  • New Haven police arrested Edwards on March 14, 2025, after allegedly finding him in possession of more than 200 grams of narcotics pills produced by Gonzalez, the indictment alleges.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
  • The Fort Worth Police Department arrested three men on narcotics charges after seizing a large amount of drugs from their homes, police said.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
Definition of narcotic
Adjective
  • The compounds in kratom show promise for their analgesic properties.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of analgesic
Noun
  • Other monkeys, including some of the larger and more dominant macaques, had to be subdued with tranquilizer darts before they could be captured.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • The worrisome drug withdrawal popping up in jails A powerful tranquilizer has started to accompany fentanyl in the country’s illicit opioid supply, and jails are struggling to handle the drug’s excruciating, complicated withdrawal symptoms.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 June 2026
Definition of tranquilizer
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
Definition of depressant
Noun
  • Because poppy seeds come from the same plant species used to produce opiates, consuming large amounts can sometimes lead to detectable levels of opiate compounds in urine tests.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2026
  • So far this year, alcohol has become EPICC’s leading referral category, followed by methamphetamine and opiates.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of opiate
Adjective
  • Four Tet’s sense for sound design shines from crushed 8-bit drums to the hypnotic handpan grooves and sharp synth melodies.
    — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 19 July 2026
  • The London saxophonist and his ensemble fuse jazz with diverse strains of global trance music—Moroccan gnawa, Berlin kosmische—into a hypnotic, utopian expression of spiritual union.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
Definition of hypnotic

Browse Nearby Words

anesthesiologists
anesthetic
anesthetics
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Cite this Entry

“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anesthetic

Nglish: Translation of anesthetic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anesthetic

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