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
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Recent Examples of painkiller
Jones was a sometimes violent alcoholic, and Wynette developed a lifelong addiction to painkillers after a botched hysterectomy.
—
David Faris, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
The only significant drug reference is a moment when Michael resists taking painkillers after his accident.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Purdue sold painkillers for decades, and, while laws vary by state, generally doctors, hospitals and pharmacies must keep prescription records for only a few years.
—Craig R. McCoy, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2026
Sources later confirmed to PEOPLE that Prince had a quiet history of using the prescription painkiller Percocet.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
David Faris, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
The only significant drug reference is a moment when Michael resists taking painkillers after his accident.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Purdue sold painkillers for decades, and, while laws vary by state, generally doctors, hospitals and pharmacies must keep prescription records for only a few years.
—Craig R. McCoy, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2026
Sources later confirmed to PEOPLE that Prince had a quiet history of using the prescription painkiller Percocet.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for painkiller
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painkiller
Noun
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All Florida executions are carried out by injecting a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.—
David Fischer,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
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All Florida executions are by lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One approach to the treatment of pain, almost regardless of its cause, has gained both acceptance and notoriety: the use of opioids, or narcotic analgesics.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
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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
Noun
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As the tranquilizer kicked in, the bear climbed higher into the tree before stumbling down a branch, eventually losing its grip completely and falling into the net.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
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Fentanyl in street drugs is in some cases being mixed with or supplemented by dangerous alternatives, including the animal tranquilizer medetomidine and cychlorphine, an emergent synthetic opioid that carries an extreme risk of overdose.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painkiller. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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