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
-
Since the operation began last October, more than a dozen firearms have been seized, along with nearly $200,000 in illicit funds and more than 10 kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl and other narcotics, according to the FBI.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Last November, the service launched a VTOL drone produced by ShieldAI called the MQ-35 V-BAT from a cutter to intercept illicit narcotics at sea, with three interdictions made in one night.—
Zita Ballinger Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for chronic pain indications, potentially influencing investment and development priorities in the pharmaceutical industry.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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The drug breaks ground as the first and only in a category of non-opioid analgesics to treat fibromyalgia.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
When Samson starts coming round in search of more of the morphine darts Kelson has been using to subdue him — not even zombies are immune to the appeal of opiates — Kelson starts treating his wounds, then joining him in his doses, then dancing with him to fragments of ’80s songs.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 Jan. 2026
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But Clarke is worried about patients losing out on things like steroid injections, which help manage pain without opiates or surgery.—
Jillian Taylor,
StateImpact,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anesthetics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetics. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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