as in sedatives
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 painkillers
Prosecutors had argued that the nurse injected his mostly elderly patients with painkillers or sedatives to ease his workload at night.
—
CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Diaz received just over six years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing painkillers and obstructing justice in a cooperation deal that also required his testimony at Carpman’s trial.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
At 21, a boyfriend introduced her to painkillers.
—Michele Steeb, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Alex also admitted in court in 2023 to taking more than 2,000 milligrams of painkillers daily, prior to the 2021 murders.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
The other trial compares the same proprietary cannabis elixir with opioids, revealing that patients who used the elixir experienced fewer gastrointestinal side effects like constipation than when using painkillers.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
The film chronicles Kerr's rise and peak, including his struggles with addiction to painkillers, roller coaster relationship with Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), and the lowest points of his career.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
The film is based on the real-life story of Mark Kerr, a former college wrestler who battled trauma and an addiction to painkillers during the early years of the UFC.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2025
Key Takeaways Small doses of caffeine, such as those in common painkillers, can help relieve headache pain.
—Emily Brown, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2025
CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Diaz received just over six years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing painkillers and obstructing justice in a cooperation deal that also required his testimony at Carpman’s trial.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
At 21, a boyfriend introduced her to painkillers.
—Michele Steeb, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Alex also admitted in court in 2023 to taking more than 2,000 milligrams of painkillers daily, prior to the 2021 murders.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
The other trial compares the same proprietary cannabis elixir with opioids, revealing that patients who used the elixir experienced fewer gastrointestinal side effects like constipation than when using painkillers.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
The film chronicles Kerr's rise and peak, including his struggles with addiction to painkillers, roller coaster relationship with Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), and the lowest points of his career.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
The film is based on the real-life story of Mark Kerr, a former college wrestler who battled trauma and an addiction to painkillers during the early years of the UFC.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2025
Key Takeaways Small doses of caffeine, such as those in common painkillers, can help relieve headache pain.
—Emily Brown, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkillers
analgesics
Noun
-
The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for chronic pain indications, potentially influencing investment and development priorities in the pharmaceutical industry.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 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
Cite this Entry
“Painkillers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkillers. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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