anodynes

noun

plural of anodyne
1
as in sedatives
something (as a drug) that relieves pain the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in narcotics
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodynes
  1. analgesics
  2. narcotics
  3. opiates
  4. anesthetics
Noun
  • Across all participants, 81% reduced their use of oral analgesics, and the suppository was well-tolerated, with most participants willing to use it again.
    — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of analgesics
Noun
  • After the July 10 graduation, the CHP has a total of 54 canine teams throughout the state, including 39 patrol and narcotics detection canine teams.
    — Libby Simpson, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
  • The 10th season of the program finds Casillas reemerging to recover his narcotics empire after disappearing from his family’s radar.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of narcotics
Noun
  • So far this year, alcohol has become EPICC’s leading referral category, followed by methamphetamine and opiates.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
  • In 2020, O'Neal had a near-fatal stroke after overdosing on morphine, opiates and pain medication.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 10 May 2026
Definition of opiates
Noun
  • Hospitals across the island face shortages of supplies including syringes, gauze, vaccines and anesthetics.
    — Andrea Rodríguez, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The patient wouldn’t have had the benefit of modern anesthetics, but archaeological traces at other sites suggest Neanderthals knew about medicinal plants like chamomile and yarrow, as well as antiseptics like birch tar.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Definition of anesthetics
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.

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anodyne
anodynes
anoint
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Cite this Entry

“Anodynes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodynes. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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