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
But that’s not what happened in his story, where Rue was killed when her cover was blown, and her boss Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) gave her painkillers laced with fentanyl.
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 June 2026
The season wrapped with the heartbreaking death of Zendaya's Rue Bennett, who overdoses on laced painkillers given to her by Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Alamo gives Rue painkillers laced with fentanyl.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026
Rue returns to Alamo, who gives her a stack of cash and a bottle of painkillers for her trouble.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
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 European Union reached a provisional deal to strengthen the supply of essential medicines — such as antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, and painkillers — and avoid shortages by boosting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 12 May 2026
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 June 2026
The season wrapped with the heartbreaking death of Zendaya's Rue Bennett, who overdoses on laced painkillers given to her by Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Alamo gives Rue painkillers laced with fentanyl.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026
Rue returns to Alamo, who gives her a stack of cash and a bottle of painkillers for her trouble.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
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 European Union reached a provisional deal to strengthen the supply of essential medicines — such as antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, and painkillers — and avoid shortages by boosting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkillers
analgesics
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
Cite this Entry
“Painkillers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkillers. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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