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
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
There are the anodyne curves of the Mercedes EQE sedan, which makes do with a less capable powertrain and an interior that feels a little too lightweight at times.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2025
Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020
To yield to the soft tyranny of transgender pronouns is to pretend that gender dysphoria is an anodyne lifestyle on which societal legitimacy should be conferred, not a psychological malady requiring compassion and psychological treatment.
—Josh Hammer, National Review, 27 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Adjective
Most Instagram accounts belonging to celebrities or public figures seek to create an anodyne, uniform experience; people peddle in similar photo quality, regular fixtures, minimal opinion sharing (or exclusive opinion sharing built on a political consistency).
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
There are the anodyne curves of the Mercedes EQE sedan, which makes do with a less capable powertrain and an interior that feels a little too lightweight at times.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2025
Noun
The result of all that rulemaking and political sensitivity is the anodyne Covid-19.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020
To yield to the soft tyranny of transgender pronouns is to pretend that gender dysphoria is an anodyne lifestyle on which societal legitimacy should be conferred, not a psychological malady requiring compassion and psychological treatment.
—Josh Hammer, National Review, 27 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodyne
Adjective
-
Ultimately harmless, this was the piece of the bomb that would ignite the charge in the main body of the projectile.—
Michael Jerome Plunkett
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
-
This compulsion to celebrate himself in general, and to celebrate such a juvenile, harmless gesture in particular, should be yet another reason to lose all patience with Lee Raybon.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Yet, unlike cortisol, oxytocin will have an effect on your body akin to that of a sedative.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Didn't go to the hospital just took Benadryl [antihistamine and sedative] for about two weeks.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Washington has increasingly tied its counter-narcotics push to its broader campaign against the Maduro government.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Court records show that a majority of Stevenson's arrests are related to the unlawful possession of a firearm or narcotics.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But even if this ultrasound does pick up on an ovarian growth, that doesn’t tell you whether the tumor is cancerous (and most of the growths found by transvaginal ultrasound are benign).—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
5 Sep. 2025
-
But levitating Treasury yields after a court ruled many of the administration's tariffs were imposed illegally has stoked some questioning of the benign equilibrium among policy, the economy and markets, prompting a wobble in equity indexes Tuesday.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Its pill, called Tonyma, is a nonopioid analgesic designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
Synthetic fabrics like microfiber, nylon, polyester, acrylic, and performance fabrics are all safe for at-home treatment.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This hair tool bag from Famoplay keeps straighteners, curling irons, and blowout brushes safe, organized, and away from the rest of your suitcase’s contents.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Unless more Democrats start being realistic, many more innocent people will unfortunately continue to suffer.—
Christopher Tremoglie,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ben Lewis Doherty, playing a boy named Sam whose life is upended by Robbie, is the show’s greatest innocent, a softhearted moppet who warns deer to be careful when crossing the street.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anodyne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodyne. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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