painkiller
Americannoun
-
painkillers
plural
noun
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an analgesic drug or agent
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anything that relieves pain
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of painkiller
Explanation
A painkiller is a medicine that's used to dull or relieve pain, like the painkiller your dad gives you when you have a bad headache. Painkillers are meant to do exactly what their name says: to kill pain. You can also call this kind of medication an analgesic. These range from aspirin and acetaminophen, which are sold over the counter to treat minor aches and pains, to powerful anesthetics administered by doctors before surgery. If you get your wisdom teeth removed, you'll most likely need a painkiller during and after the procedure.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A US appeals court on Monday vacated the dismissal of hundreds of private lawsuits against Tylenol-maker Kenvue that allege scientifically unproven ties of the painkiller to autism.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
Last year, Lilly acquired SiteOne Therapeutics for $1 billion, in turn assuming the rights to its experimental non-opioid painkiller, STC-004.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
If, say, you’ve had a stomach ulcer, the bot would recommend a painkiller that’s easy on the gut.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026
Although epibatidine has been investigated as a painkiller and for relief from painful inflammatory lung conditions, it is not used clinically because of its toxicity.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2026
I'm a drone, painkiller makes the blankets feel too heavy, except I'm not under the blankets.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
More importantly, the approach may help address something painkillers cannot: the excessive pressure on knee joints that contributes to osteoarthritis progression.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
Low vitamin D levels may make recovery from breast cancer surgery more painful and increase the need for opioid painkillers, according to research published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
"But what can painkillers do for a cancer patient?"
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
In Pasadena, volunteers at the restaurant Chamo Venezuelan Cuisine collected supplies, issuing a special plea for bandages, gauze, painkillers and other over-the-counter medicines.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
“You get any pain in the leg, you call the nurse. Try not to ask for painkillers unless you really need them, though, okay?”
From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers
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