1
as in sedatives
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect
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2
as in narcotics
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
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Recent Examples of anesthetics
Toward the beginning, students in the pilot learn about local anesthetics, handling instruments and positioning patients.
—
Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
He was given anesthetics to ease his pain.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
There is not much to say about that misadventure, other than that some people still haven’t gotten the memo about dissociative anesthetics and bathtubs.
—Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
These vampiric bugs use needle-like mouthpieces to locate a capillary and inject saliva containing anesthetics and anticoagulants into its host allowing blood to flow freely into their stomachs for several minutes.
—Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025
Other factors include the level of inflammation and how quickly anesthetics work.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Low doses of most anesthetics, says Franks, work by affecting our brain cells’ receptors.
—Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
Also consider topical anesthetics and analgesic patches, or mild transcutaneous neurostimulation such as the TENS device, which applies a low-voltage current to the skin.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Surprisingly, scientists only recently learned how anesthetics trigger unconsciousness.
—Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
He was given anesthetics to ease his pain.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
There is not much to say about that misadventure, other than that some people still haven’t gotten the memo about dissociative anesthetics and bathtubs.
—Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
These vampiric bugs use needle-like mouthpieces to locate a capillary and inject saliva containing anesthetics and anticoagulants into its host allowing blood to flow freely into their stomachs for several minutes.
—Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025
Other factors include the level of inflammation and how quickly anesthetics work.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Low doses of most anesthetics, says Franks, work by affecting our brain cells’ receptors.
—Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
Also consider topical anesthetics and analgesic patches, or mild transcutaneous neurostimulation such as the TENS device, which applies a low-voltage current to the skin.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Surprisingly, scientists only recently learned how anesthetics trigger unconsciousness.
—Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetics
Noun
-
In 2024, investigators found that Jacobson allegedly received $65,000 in NEP funds and only distributed $30,500 to narcotics investigators, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Evanchec said authorities executed 14 warrants to seize narcotics, guns and other evidence.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Microorganisms in thermal mud produce a variety of compounds with therapeutic properties, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and analgesics, the study found.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Turmeric may have effects similar to those of analgesics, medicines used to relieve pain.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Regardless of the reason, there are many viable options for testing for specific drugs at home, such as marijuana, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines and other drugs.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The illicit love story between the money launderer and the fentanyl trafficker working together to shower New England with deadly opiates came crashing down under the weight of a multi-year federal investigation.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetics. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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