painkiller

noun

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

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.
California will receive $122 million in a settlement agreement with Kroger, the grocery chain and parent company of Ralphs, to resolve lawsuits over its alleged role in the opioid crisis and how its pharmacies dispensed prescription painkillers to customers. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 Exactly one month after the fatal shooting, Reed allegedly robbed two women of cash and a bag of painkiller pills on the 1600 block of 61st Avenue. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024 In 2015, a Toyota Motor executive from America resigned after she was arrested and then released in Japan on suspicion of illegally importing the painkiller oxycodone. Dylan Butts, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2024 Yet as fate would have it, Skye heads to her former high-school classmate and drug dealer Lewis’ (Lukas Gage) apartment on the eve of her tour to score some low-grade painkillers. Abby Monteil, Them, 23 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near painkiller

Cite this Entry

“Painkiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painkiller. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

painkiller

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

Medical Definition

painkiller

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

More from Merriam-Webster on painkiller

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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