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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anodyne
Steven Levy, Wired News, 22 Aug. 2025
American Eagle will probably create a more anodyne campaign to follow this one.
—Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Adjective
Even Coldplay’s anodyne frontman Chris Martin couldn’t ignore their response.
—Steven Levy, Wired News, 22 Aug. 2025
American Eagle will probably create a more anodyne campaign to follow this one.
—Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodyne
Adjective
-
Lawmakers have promised that schools and local governments, which receive a large share of the sales tax revenue the state collects, will be held harmless by the shift.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But plenty of seemingly harmless items contribute to the mess, too.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The end of her life was, to borrow a phrase from Paul’s novel The Sheltering Sky, a dream of terror: in and out of hospitals; episodes of psychosis; copious amounts of gin, strokes, sedatives.—
Nicole Flattery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
-
At higher doses, kratom can be used as a sedative and potentially cause psychosis.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Encased in a glossy synth-pop tune, producers Max Martin and Shellback lace the lyrics with a melody as addictive as a narcotic, hooking listeners from the start.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Officials argue that this framing grants Washington broader legal and military latitude to act against foreign groups involved in narcotics smuggling.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These benign growths are most often asymptomatic (without symptoms) and usually found by chance during imaging for other reasons.—
MD Published,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Jones' assessments of the situation featured everything from benign, informational updates to suggesting Parsons could get hit by a car while discussing the implications of signing the 26-year-old star to a long-term deal.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
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
-
Its pill, called Tonyma, is a nonopioid analgesic designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These chemicals can be even more potent than other opiates and produce comparable hallucinogenic effects, increasing the desirability of the cut fentanyl on the market.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Boston Magazine reported that during her training she was ultimately dismissed for administering opiates without a doctor’s order and leaving her shift early.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Fields slept at downtown bus stops, often gathering with groups or pretending to have a firearm in her coat to stay safe.—
Ashley Hiruko,
ProPublica,
6 Oct. 2025
-
No payment data was accessed within the breach, meaning information like credits cards or transaction history was safe.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As with all investigations leading to arrest, the subjects of the investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The new dating term 'Shrekking' sounds innocent.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anodyne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodyne. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share