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 Words From

• painkilling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of painkiller¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; pain + killer

Example Sentences

University of Queensland researchers have developed a new class of oral painkillers to suppress chronic abdominal pain that is based on the peptide hormone oxytocin that drives childbirth contractions.

From Science Daily

Elise says the pain will only get worse as her body becomes more tolerant of painkillers – making them less effective.

From BBC

Prince overdosed on a powerful painkiller that federal health authorities say is a public health threat.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Raithelhuber said there was a "lesson to learn... from North America", where people became addicted to prescription painkillers before the use of fake medicines containing fentanyl became widespread.

From BBC

First developed as painkillers by the Swiss company Ciba Pharmaceuticals in the 50s, nitazenes are synthetic opioids roughly as potent as fentanyl but sometimes demanding more naloxone to revive from an overdose.

From Salon

Related Words

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