as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller
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Recent Examples of painkiller
But the judge, Clifton Newman, responded with a forceful rebuke of Murdaugh and alluded to the defendant’s addiction to prescription painkillers.
—
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026
And there are some natural painkillers among the plants of modern Siberia, like white clover, which is also a handy antiseptic.
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
The defense argued that Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The defense argued that Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026
And there are some natural painkillers among the plants of modern Siberia, like white clover, which is also a handy antiseptic.
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
The defense argued that Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The defense argued that Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
-
Melatonin is a timing tool, not a sedative, and won’t overcome a bright room or a noisy house on its own.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
Chloral hydrate, a sedative, is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia and to relieve anxiety and induce sleep before surgery.—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Noun
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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
-
One approach to the treatment of pain, almost regardless of its cause, has gained both acceptance and notoriety: the use of opioids, or narcotic analgesics.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are sedatives such as xylazine, street-named Tranq, an animal tranquilizer that can cause fleshrotting skin lesions and is frequently mixed with fentanyl.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
18 May 2026
-
Naloxone, the ingredient in Narcan, is an antidote for opioid overdoses, but because xylazine is not an opioid, the emergency medicine only stops the effects of fentanyl, not the tranquilizer, making those who overdose more likely to have lethal repercussions.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkiller. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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