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

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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 So have over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen, if they can be found at all. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026 Fuelled in part by the overprescription of painkillers like OxyContin in the 1990s, the market for unregulated substitutes exploded into what became regarded as an epidemic by the turn of the millennium. — New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026 Some bottles of opioid painkillers in his home were prescribed to an associate, and other medications were found in vitamin bottles and envelopes, search warrants showed. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026 The seed may have been employed as a painkiller or as a social and cultural practice still influencing its modern use. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
  • In 1961, however, studies in animals revealed that clozapine acts primarily as a sedative and exerts its effects without inducing muscle rigidity, as previous antipsychotics had.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Pike, 50, who was sentenced to death for a 1995 murder, was administered two doses of just one drug, pentobarbital, a sedative.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The authors posit that people from that period sucked on betel nuts to relieve tooth pain, given that these populations are known to have had bad teeth and arecoline is a natural analgesic.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Unprocessed nuts likely offer milder effects, but arceoline remains a natural analgesic.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Authorities have issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces and are seeking to procure tranquilizer dart guns to support rangers in rural areas.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Her husband hurriedly shut the door and begged her to see a doctor for a tranquilizer prescription.
    — Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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