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.

---

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

---

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; an- ¹, -odynia ( def. )

Example Sentences

He doesn’t actually understand the corporate world but treats it like a game, filling out forms, writing anodyne requests to lawyers and other middlemen, steadily accumulating positions in public companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Opponents described as "brutal" and "inhuman" a reform which in other countries would have seemed perfectly anodyne.

From BBC

In segments on TVs or tablets, these anodyne tales are effective babysitters.

From New York Times

That is a remarkably anodyne characterization of activities that include:

From Washington Post

G7 summits are notorious for anodyne and slightly ridiculous photo opportunities which leave world leaders struggling to seem natural in bizarre contexts - for example meeting another world leader on a small, overcast English beach.

From Reuters