painkiller

noun

pain·​kill·​er ˈpān-ˌki-lər How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
variants or less commonly pain-killer
Synonyms of painkillernext
: something (such as a drug) that relieves pain
pain-killing
ˈpān-ˌki-liŋ How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
adjective
or painkilling

Synonyms of painkiller

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Examples of painkiller in a Sentence

I took some over-the-counter painkillers for my headache. after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The assassination attempt was one week ago, and Grace is back to working a full schedule and refusing painkillers. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 Though the series went on to cast a new Darrin, York remained bedridden for months and reportedly struggled with an addiction to painkillers, per a 2024 special about the series. — Justine Fisher, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2026 As Manganiello was just beginning to recover, weaning himself with difficulty from a heavy regimen of painkillers that had tested his sobriety, his agent called with the news that Ben Affleck wanted to discuss a role in the new Batman movie. — Joe Manganiello, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 Sometimes, the mirror molecule does something completely different from what it was originally intended to — take novrad, a cough medicine, and darvon, a painkiller, which are chiral molecules (hence their mirror names, too). — Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painkiller

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of painkiller was in 1849

Rhymes for painkiller

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Browse Nearby Words

painful to the touch
painkiller
painless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painkiller. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

painkiller

noun
pain·​kill·​er ˈpān-ˌkil-ər How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
: something (as a drug) that relieves pain
painkilling
-iŋ How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

painkiller

noun
pain·​kill·​er -ˌkil-ər How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
: something (as a drug) that relieves pain
painkilling
-iŋ How to pronounce painkiller (audio)
adjective
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