as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
the otherwise anodyne comments sounded quite inflammatory when taken out of context
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain
the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security
as an anodyne for the stress and superficiality of the modern world, there's nothing better than reading a literary classic of substance and insight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of anodyne
Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
Read full email › Mr. Biden’s language tends to be more anodyne.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 18 July 2024
Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020
To yield to the soft tyranny of transgender pronouns is to pretend that gender dysphoria is an anodyne lifestyle on which societal legitimacy should be conferred, not a psychological malady requiring compassion and psychological treatment.
—Josh Hammer, National Review, 27 Jan. 2020
See all Example Sentences for anodyne 
Adjective
What used to be complementary is now an up-charge, what used to be fueled by actors and human talent is now automated and impersonal, and what used to be special is anodyne and mundane.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
Read full email › Mr. Biden’s language tends to be more anodyne.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 18 July 2024
Noun
The result of all that rulemaking and political sensitivity is the anodyne Covid-19.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020
To yield to the soft tyranny of transgender pronouns is to pretend that gender dysphoria is an anodyne lifestyle on which societal legitimacy should be conferred, not a psychological malady requiring compassion and psychological treatment.
—Josh Hammer, National Review, 27 Jan. 2020
See all Example Sentences for anodyne
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodyne
Adjective
-
While some argue that eating an item with the intent to pay for it later is harmless, others point out that this habit often crosses a line.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
While click baiting may be harmless, producing hate and discontent for personal financial gain is despicable.—
Rochelle Eastman,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Since the death penalty was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court in 1976, the federal government has executed 16 prisoners with a high dose of the sedative pentobarbital.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Alcohol, while initially sedative, disrupts the natural sleep cycle.—
Lela London,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Panga vessels are often used to smuggle migrants and narcotics, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s website.—
Jasmine Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Soon after, not only did Denver’s agencies not participate in our task forces, but our agents, including me, were intentionally removed from a narcotics task force.—
John Fabbricatore,
The Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The interrogation—albeit benign—at secondary inspection signaled the beginning.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Pollard revealed that the seemingly benign legislation benefited Goggin’s longtime friend and sometime business partner, Dennis Krieger, who was underwriting a stock sale for a company that made the only devices Goggin’s legislation would finance.—
Dan Walters,
Orange County Register,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Importantly, the medication is not an opioid, which means that medical professionals now have an alternative to treating acute pain that doesn’t require using a potentially addictive analgesic.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Acetaminophen, also an analgesic, works to enhance the opioid's pain-relieving capabilities.—
Ayesha Gulzar,
Verywell Health,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Tolerance is a side effect of many medications, such as opiates and benzodiazepines, which are often used to help treat pain and anxiety.—
Femi Aremu,
Verywell Health,
3 Feb. 2025
-
A day later, a social worker told the new mother: The baby’s meconium — or first bowel movement — had tested positive for opiates.—
Shoshana Walter,
USA TODAY,
11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Air travel is the absolute safest form of transportation, according to a 2024 Transportation Statistics Report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Still, some people with power but damaged equipment might not have safe access to heat, Beshear said Tuesday.—
Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
After a 16-month war that started with the horrific killing of 1,200 innocent Israelis and abduction of 250 more by Hamas terrorists and then the killing of more than 47,500 people in Gaza — mostly women and children — a fragile ceasefire began Jan. 19.—
Mike Quigley,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
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One day, during an innocent prank call in a phone booth, Richard shockingly witnesses his classmate violently get sucked into the phone receiver and disappear without a trace.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near anodyne
Cite this Entry
“Anodyne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodyne. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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