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
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
Forty years ago, American researcher Roger Ulrich studied how hospital patients used fewer painkillers and had faster recoveries when their windows overlooked a green space with trees compared to those who looked out at a brick wall, the release stated.
—Khloe Quill, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
During the early 2000s, a neck injury sustained in a match led to a reliance on painkillers, which eventually developed into a serious addiction.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
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
Forty years ago, American researcher Roger Ulrich studied how hospital patients used fewer painkillers and had faster recoveries when their windows overlooked a green space with trees compared to those who looked out at a brick wall, the release stated.
—Khloe Quill, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
During the early 2000s, a neck injury sustained in a match led to a reliance on painkillers, which eventually developed into a serious addiction.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkillers
analgesics
Noun
-
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 13 Sep. 2025.
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