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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anodyne
Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The problem is that to be so universally inoffensive, an affiliative joke usually ends up being overworn and anodyne.
—Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
John Brant, Popular Mechanics, 27 Apr. 2020
This is the confluence that defines the spectacle: statistics, like photographs, have a kind of moral authority, one whose meaning may repel us but one that nevertheless encourages certainty, and thus anodyne.
—Shannon Pufahl, The New York Review of Books, 21 Apr. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Adjective
The Port, which is overseen by the county, issued its own anodyne statement at the time, never conceding any role in the problem.
—Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The problem is that to be so universally inoffensive, an affiliative joke usually ends up being overworn and anodyne.
—Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Peterson pauses, running his hand along the blue aluminum-anodyne actuator machined to match the length of Daniel’s right thigh.
—John Brant, Popular Mechanics, 27 Apr. 2020
This is the confluence that defines the spectacle: statistics, like photographs, have a kind of moral authority, one whose meaning may repel us but one that nevertheless encourages certainty, and thus anodyne.
—Shannon Pufahl, The New York Review of Books, 21 Apr. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodyne
Adjective
-
In the classic version, participants play a kind of video game in which human figures—some Black, some white—are holding either guns or harmless objects.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This makes harmful language appear harmless or funny.—
Sharlette A. Kellum,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Impact of medetomidine The medical term for the drug is called medetomidine, and it is used in veterinary offices as an animal sedative.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The wrecked car was overturned with the nude model sleeping inside—playing dead with help from a mild sedative.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sangha’s associate and Perry’s assistant also pleaded guilty to narcotics charges and are awaiting sentencing.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The latest crime data in Connecticut shows that most violent crime and thefts were down in 2025, while the state saw a double-digit increase in narcotics violations.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Under this system, manufacturers can use limitless amounts of sugar and refined grain products — traditional ingredients — but not a range of benign or beneficial ingredients such as protein concentrates, fiber, flavor extracts, or even carbonation.—
David S. Ludwig,
STAT,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Pancreatic NETs are a rare type of tumor that forms in hormone-making cells of the pancreas and may be benign or cancerous, according to the National Cancer Institute.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Here's what to know about the medication, a powerful painkiller that belongs to a group of medicines called opioid analgesics.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Turmeric may have effects similar to those of analgesics, medicines used to relieve pain.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
25 Feb. 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
-
Jose Fernandez, an above-average runner, was safe at home, and Moreno went to third.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
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According to court records, a powerful animal tranquilizer known as BAM — a combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — was found in her bone marrow.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anodyne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodyne. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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