as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of painkiller 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 Stefania D'Alessandro/WireImage What To Know In The Smashing Machine, Johnson portrays Kerr, the two-time UFC heavyweight tournament winner whose career and life in the late 1990s included both ring success and struggles with painkiller addiction. Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 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 See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
  • At higher doses, kratom can be used as a sedative and potentially cause psychosis.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Yet, unlike cortisol, oxytocin will have an effect on your body akin to that of a sedative.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
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  • The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for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
  • Its pill, called Tonyma, is a nonopioid analgesic designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Jacintha, a horseback rider, was familiar with ketamine as a horse tranquilizer but had never heard of it as a last-stop mental health treatment for treatment-resistant patients like Lucy, who was diagnosed with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The program tests for various drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other opioids, as well as xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that authorities have warned is increasingly being found mixed in with other drugs.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkiller. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on painkiller

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!