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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

A common bacterium was genetically engineered to eat a plastic-derived molecule and then digest it to produce the everyday painkiller, paracetamol.

From BBC

"No painkillers as well, with their limbs hanging with a piece of skin and the tendon. Brain matter out. Organs are out. It's horrific," she added.

From BBC

Medical experts have strongly pushed back, and health officials in the UK have stressed that paracetamol remains the safest painkiller available to pregnant women.

From BBC

Related Words

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