painkillers

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 painkillers 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 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 This painful side effect, which can cause tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, can be managed with ice and painkillers or opioids. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2026 During processing, two opioid painkillers, hydrocodone, were found in Woods’ pocket, and that’s when he was formally accused of DUI and other charges. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkillers
analgesics
Noun
  • Local clinics lack the most basic medications, like fever-reducing drugs and analgesics.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The physician performs a detailed history and physical examination, reviews prior films, discusses conservative management, and orders physical therapy plus non-opioid analgesics.
    — Richard Menger MD MPA, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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