Definition of painkillernext
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 painkiller The pills were later determined to be the painkiller hydrocodone, according to the affidavit. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 Police also reported finding two painkillers in Woods’ pockets. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026 During the crash, a police affidavit said Woods carried two hydrocodone pills, opioid painkillers, in his left pocket. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2026 The medication schedule was pretty straightforward; everything had been crossed off but the painkiller. Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
  • Williams also knows the problems of open-air drug markets, including at Penn North, where two mass overdoses that were likely due to an animal sedative sent dozens of people to hospitals last year.
    Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Lunesta, known generically as eszopiclone, is a prescription sedative used to treat insomnia.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 10 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
  • 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
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkiller. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on painkiller

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster