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
The painkillers had caused an upset stomach.
—
Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The biopic depicts Kerr’s career from his glory days as a pioneer of MMA and UFC to his struggles with his addiction to painkillers.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Opioid addiction is distressingly common in nearly every contact and combat sport, but Kerr was isolated from the endemic abuse of painkillers in the industry.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
The athlete, who battled addiction to painkillers, earned the titular nickname due to his ability to quickly and easily dispense with his opponents.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Residents often receive combinations of painkillers, sleeping aids, decongestants and other drugs, many of which were included in the study.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
There are also concerns that taking ginger with strong painkillers such as morphine may intensify the drug’s effects.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2025
Over-the-counter painkillers including acetaminophen and ibuprofen could be quietly contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Clune observes the beginning of the opioid crisis, when prescription painkillers flooded the country and led to millions of people becoming addicted to heroin and fentanyl.
—Emily Witt, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The biopic depicts Kerr’s career from his glory days as a pioneer of MMA and UFC to his struggles with his addiction to painkillers.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Opioid addiction is distressingly common in nearly every contact and combat sport, but Kerr was isolated from the endemic abuse of painkillers in the industry.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
The athlete, who battled addiction to painkillers, earned the titular nickname due to his ability to quickly and easily dispense with his opponents.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Residents often receive combinations of painkillers, sleeping aids, decongestants and other drugs, many of which were included in the study.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
There are also concerns that taking ginger with strong painkillers such as morphine may intensify the drug’s effects.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2025
Over-the-counter painkillers including acetaminophen and ibuprofen could be quietly contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Clune observes the beginning of the opioid crisis, when prescription painkillers flooded the country and led to millions of people becoming addicted to heroin and fentanyl.
—Emily Witt, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 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 15 Sep. 2025.
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