Synonyms of anodyne

anodyne 1 of 2

adjective

ˈa-nə-ˌdīn 

as in harmless

not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt

the otherwise anodyne comments sounded quite inflammatory when taken out of context

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harmless
• benign
• safe
• innocent
• innocuous
• inoffensive
• white
• healthy
• sound
• mild
• gentle
• benignant
• salubrious
• healthful
• wholesome
• hurtless
• unobjectionable
• gracious
• trustworthy
• nonthreatening
• painless
• nontoxic
• nonlethal
• nonpoisonous
• noncorrosive
• nondestructive
• noninfectious
• nonfatal
• nonpolluting
• nonvenomous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dangerous
• adverse
• pernicious
• noxious
• harmful
• bad
• ill
• injurious
• evil
• deleterious
• prejudicial
• detrimental
• wicked
• poisonous
• hurtful
• damaging
• baleful
• baneful
• mischievous
• sinister
• venomous
• ominous
• hazardous
• threatening
• menacing
• nocuous
• unsafe
• risky
• perilous
• painful
• unsound
• unwholesome
• offensive
• unhealthy
• unhealthful
• nasty
• lethal
• scathing
• fatal
• deadly
• noxious
• malignant
• parlous
• destructive
• insidious
• ruinous
• noisome
• polluted
• imperiling
• jeopardizing
• wounding
• pestilent
• tainted

anodyne

2 of 2

noun

1

as in sedative

something (as a drug) that relieves pain

the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sedative
• analgesic
• tranquilizer
• anesthetic
• painkiller
• narcotic
• opiate

2

as in narcotic

something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security

as an anodyne for the stress and superficiality of the modern world, there's nothing better than reading a literary classic of substance and insight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• narcotic
• opiate
• tranquilizer
• anesthetic
• sedative
• hypnotic
• security blanket
• palliative
• soporific
• pacifier

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of anodyne

Adjective

Venture forth, ye viewers of strong will, into a seemingly anodyne furniture store in San Jose, California, circa 1990. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2026

Instead, both shows keep adding portentous but vague themes until so many ideas have been articulated that only the most anodyne takeaways survive. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 May 2026

Noun

Ten years ago, lazy auto writers used the Toyota Camry as shorthand for anodyne transportation, a car for people who think of cars as appliances. — Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 13 Mar. 2020

The result of all that rulemaking and political sensitivity is the anodyne Covid-19. — Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020

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