painkiller

[peyn-kil-er]

noun

1. a drug, treatment, or anything else that relieves pain, especially an analgesic.

painkiller

/ ˈpeɪnˌkɪlə /

noun

1. an analgesic drug or agent

2. anything that relieves pain

Other Word Forms

• painkilling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of painkiller¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; pain + killer

Example Sentences

Some studies have found that acetaminophen, a commonly used painkiller, is linked to autism, including a 2020 study led by Johns Hopkins researchers and cited by administration officials.

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But officials were divided over how much emphasis to put on the painkiller and were planning to discuss it as one of many possible causes, people familiar with the matter said.

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When she complains about his use of painkillers, he simply throws away the vials.

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Kerr was one of the sport’s earliest champions, before it became a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and his career was derailed by an addiction to painkillers.

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The Tylenol announcement broke through to a lot of people, in large part because there’s widespread experience with and acceptance of the painkiller.

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Related Words

• aspirin 
• drug 
• medicine 
• morphine 
• ointment 
• opiate 
• sedative 
• tranquilizer