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
Joseph S. Nye Jr., Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Next came up the meaningless anodyne resolution, the Path to Peace, offered by the Trump administration that assigned no blame to the war.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 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
Early in 2021, this new group issued a broad, if somewhat anodyne, report that reaffirmed the 2015 norms, as well as the relevance of international law to cyberspace.
—Joseph S. Nye Jr., Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Next came up the meaningless anodyne resolution, the Path to Peace, offered by the Trump administration that assigned no blame to the war.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 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
-
False positives: Finding harmless abnormalities can lead to false-positive results (a test result that incorrectly determines a condition is present), unnecessary stress, tests, and procedures.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
10 Apr. 2025
-
On the surface, YouTubers’ content looks harmless—a teen girl in her bedroom making squishies or kids unboxing their latest hauls from popular stores, sharing unfiltered opinions.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Sedative medications: Due to ashwagandha's sleep-promoting effect, using it with other sedatives (medicines that might cause sleepiness), like Xanax and Valium (benzodiazepines), can cause breathing problems or too much sleepiness.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Anxiety and restlessness can be eased somewhat by Benadryl’s sedative effects.—
Alex Yampolsky,
Verywell Health,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Seizures of narcotics also reinforce our continued commitment to our border security mission.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Rodriguez was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Inflation still remains a concern because the full impact of tariffs is yet to be felt, however, at least the underlying trends (e.g. non-tariff related inflation) seems benign at this time.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The hospital determined that five cases were benign brain tumors of three different types, and six cases were determined not to be brain tumors at all but other health concerns, according to the memo.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Peppermint Oil Peppermint oil is a topical analgesic that may help alleviate pain from tense jaw muscles associated with TMJ dysfunction.—
Christopher Bergland,
Verywell Health,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Participants who’d been issued at least two acetaminophen prescriptions within six months – and not in combination with other analgesics like codeine – were defined as exposed to acetaminophen.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The child also tested positive for exposure to opiates.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
-
During a search of his vehicle, officers allegedly located an off-white powder substance which tested positive for opiates along with two other substances which tested positive for cocaine, police said.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Be aware that sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe alternatives.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
-
And, this time, its organizers are promising to keep the event safe and clean.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Since 1973, at least 200 innocent people have been exonerated due to wrongful convictions.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
-
In a nearly 400-page petition to the California Court of Appeals, filed Friday night, the LA Innocence Project argued Scott Peterson is innocent and his conviction should be overturned.—
Santina Leuci,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anodyne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodyne. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share