1
as in sedatives
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in narcotics
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
as an anodyne for the stress and superficiality of the modern world, there's nothing better than reading a literary classic of substance and insight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodynes
Noun
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The warrant was issued as part of an investigation into narcotics violations, police said.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026 -
In May 2023 in New Haven federal court, he was sentenced to 60 months in prison for narcotics trafficking, federal officials said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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Turmeric may have effects similar to those of analgesics, medicines used to relieve pain.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Are laughter and lightness merely opiates, or tools of the revolution, or both, or neither?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
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Offering 99 percent accuracy for five different drugs, this drug test has exceptional sensitivity for detecting opiates in urine.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, one of Iran’s largest producers of anti-cancer drugs and anesthetics was hit on Tuesday, state media reported.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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Modern medicine — with its new anesthetics and vaccines and innovative equipment — emerged around this time.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Anodynes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodynes. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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