painkiller
Americannoun
noun
-
an analgesic drug or agent
-
anything that relieves pain
Other Word Forms
- painkilling adjective
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.
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
Wall Street has been focusing on the company’s next-generation painkiller Journavax, as well as its IgA nephropathy treatment.
From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026
The idea that a humble painkiller could help prevent cancer is both exciting and provocative.
From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026
"Caffeine is a co-analgesic which means it can boost the effect of a painkiller," Dr Munro explains, but avoid it in the afternoon and evening as it can disrupt your sleep.
From BBC • Nov. 5, 2025
He was putting more ice on my mouth because the painkiller they had given me at the hospital was wearing off.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
