anesthetic

1 of 2

adjective

an·​es·​thet·​ic ˌa-nəs-ˈthe-tik 

1

: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia

2

: lacking awareness or sensitivity

was anesthetic to their feelings

anesthetically

ˌa-nəs-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

anesthetic

2 of 2

noun

1

: a substance that produces anesthesia

2

: something that brings relief : palliative

Synonyms

Noun

• analgesic
• anodyne
• painkiller

Examples of anesthetic in a Sentence

Noun

The doctor gave him the stitches without an anesthetic.

the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Those were the paralyzing squeezes beneath my sternum, all part of having the anesthetic fiddle with one of the nerves on my diaphragm. —Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 18 May 2024

But the misuse of the anesthetic drug has spurred F.D.A. warnings. —Ernesto Londoño Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 12 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anesthetic

• pre-anesthetic

Kids Definition

anesthetic

1 of 2 adjective

an·​es·​thet·​ic ˌan-əs-ˈthet-ik 

: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia

anesthetically

-ˈthet-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

anesthetic

2 of 2 noun

: a substance that produces anesthesia in part or all of the body

Medical Definition

anesthetic

1 of 2 adjective

an·​es·​thet·​ic

variants or chiefly British anaesthetic

ˌan-əs-ˈthet-ik 

1

: capable of producing anesthesia

anesthetic agents

2

: of, relating to, or caused by anesthesia

an anesthetic effect

anesthetic symptoms

anesthetically adverb

or chiefly British anaesthetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

anesthetic

2 of 2 noun

variants or chiefly British anaesthetic

: a substance that produces anesthesia