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
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the group prioritized profit over safety, providing the drug despite clear warning signs that Perry was abusing the dissociative anesthetic.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 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
Meanwhile, one of Iran’s largest producers of anti-cancer drugs and anesthetics was hit on Tuesday, state media reported.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the group prioritized profit over safety, providing the drug despite clear warning signs that Perry was abusing the dissociative anesthetic.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 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
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Williams also knows the problems of open-air drug markets, including at Penn North, where two mass overdoses that were likely due to an animal sedative sent dozens of people to hospitals last year.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Lunesta, known generically as eszopiclone, is a prescription sedative used to treat insomnia.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The pair of Brooklyn North narcotics detectives involved in the clash thought the man matched the description of someone who had just made a drug sale, a police source said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Duprey's death came as Duran and other narcotics officers were carrying out an undercover drug bust in the Bronx in 2023.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 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
-
The animal was captured just after midnight on Friday after he was shot by a veterinarian using a tranquilizer gun.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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In Ohio, the recent trend among people who use fentanyl is to find pills spiked with an animal tranquilizer that causes severe addiction, said Beckman, of the Hamilton County Quick Response Team.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Offering 99 percent accuracy for five different drugs, this drug test has exceptional sensitivity for detecting opiates in urine.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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.—
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
-
That smell of Sumatra — earthy, smoky, almost hypnotic.—
Nick El Hajj,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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There’s a huge connection between the hypnotic energy of your music and your live PORTAL shows.—
Danny Klein,
SPIN,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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