anodyne

American  

[an-uh-dahyn] / ˈæn əˌdaɪn /

noun

1. a medicine that relieves or allays pain.

2. anything that relieves distress or pain.

   The music was an anodyne to his grief.

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adjective

1. relieving pain.

   a book detailing the anodyne properties of certain plants.

2. soothing to the mind or feelings.

   the anodyne effects of a month's vacation.

3. weakened and made bland, as to avoid harm or controversy.

   anodyne explanations that shelter children from the brutal truth.

anodyne British  

/ ˈænəˌdaɪn /

noun

1. a drug that relieves pain; analgesic

2. anything that alleviates mental distress

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adjective

1. capable of relieving pain or distress

Other Word Forms

• anodynic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of anodyne

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin anōdynus, from Greek anṓdynos “free from pain, soothing pain,” equivalent to an- + ōdyn- (stem of odýnē “pain,” with lengthening of o ) + -os adjective suffix; cf. an- ¹, -odynia ( def. )

Explanation

When your back is killing you from helping your friend move furniture into his new apartment, you need to take an anodyne, a painkiller. An anodyne doesn’t have to be actual medicine. If the pure joy of helping your friend is soothing enough to make you forget your aching back, that counts as an anodyne too (though perhaps an unlikely one). Anodyne can also be used as an adjective to describe something that relieves pain, or is at least inoffensive. When you’re stressed out or unhappy, try looking at anodyne pictures of kittens. Er, unless you had a bad experience with a cat once.

Example Sentences

The group depicted here is a seemingly anodyne one, the Neighborhood Association of Vernon Point, a small upscale suburb of an unnamed East Coast city.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Having spent years listening to Cubans repeat anodyne revolutionary slogans when asked for their opinions on camera, it's disarming to hear such frank views expressed with no outward fear of the repercussions.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Pretty was undeniably in again, and often so anodyne that even lipstick lovers like myself longed for the days of an angsty anti-makeup manifesto.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

“For the Europeans, el penacho is beautiful, ancient and, principally, exotic,” Gómora’s recorded message informed museum-goers, in a stark departure from anodyne guide-speak.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2025

They exchanged a few anodyne words—“it certainly was not unpleasant,” recalled Oppenheimer, who stayed only briefly and left first.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik