painkiller
noun
pain·kill·er
ˈpān-ˌki-lər 
variants
or less commonly pain-killer
: something (such as a drug) that relieves pain
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
More and more of those products are being made and smuggled into the U.S. by Mexican drug cartels, often in the form of painkillers like Percocet and oxycodone and party drugs popular with young people.
—
USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Others require stronger treatments, such as prescription painkillers in order to get through the day.
—Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The list does not include coolers, painkillers, anesthetics or medical equipment, yet Nossair said everything from anesthesia to acetaminophen is rejected.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024
Exercise regularly, if possible, to improve blood flow and release endorphins, which are natural painkillers.
—Anna Almendrala, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
Taking lots of painkillers might damage your kidneys.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
Brandon, an aspiring stand-up comic, died of fentanyl and ethanol toxicity in January 2023 following a years-long battle with addiction to painkillers.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Of those deaths, roughly two-thirds also involved an opioid besides methadone, like fentanyl or a prescription painkiller.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Doctors prescribed painkillers and vitamins for her back and abdominal pain, but every appointment cost her a day’s wages and a fee for missing work.
—Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Others require stronger treatments, such as prescription painkillers in order to get through the day.
—Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The list does not include coolers, painkillers, anesthetics or medical equipment, yet Nossair said everything from anesthesia to acetaminophen is rejected.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024
Exercise regularly, if possible, to improve blood flow and release endorphins, which are natural painkillers.
—Anna Almendrala, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
Taking lots of painkillers might damage your kidneys.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
Brandon, an aspiring stand-up comic, died of fentanyl and ethanol toxicity in January 2023 following a years-long battle with addiction to painkillers.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Of those deaths, roughly two-thirds also involved an opioid besides methadone, like fentanyl or a prescription painkiller.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Doctors prescribed painkillers and vitamins for her back and abdominal pain, but every appointment cost her a day’s wages and a fee for missing work.
—Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'painkiller.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near painkiller
Cite this Entry
“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painkiller. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on painkiller
Nglish: Translation of painkiller for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of painkiller for Arabic Speakers
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