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:
Scientific research has not identified causality between taking the painkiller and the development of those conditions in children.
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
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
He previously wrote about Samsung from Seoul, but in prior stints at the Journal's New York, Atlanta and Chicago offices, he covered Wall Street's biggest buyers, painkiller addiction, airlines and food.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026
“Mom said you should remember to take your painkiller, Kambili,” she said.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Mr. Vlasenko’s companions kept him alive for months with drone deliveries of medicine, including antibiotics, painkillers and topical antiseptic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
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
"It must have been so painful. I wasn't given painkillers or anything like that, " she added.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 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
We found some painkillers, a Bluetooth speaker fully charged, binoculars, and of course, the diapers.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
