anodyne

[ an-uh-dahyn ]

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

/ ˈænəˌdaɪn /

noun

1. a drug that relieves pain; analgesic
2. anything that alleviates mental distress

adjective

1. capable of relieving pain or distress

Other Words From

• an·o·dyn·ic [an-, uh, -, din, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anodyne¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of anodyne¹

C16: from Latin anōdynus, from Greek anōdunos painless, from an- + odunē pain

Example Sentences

"Hearty" and "fondly" stand out to me, given how anodyne and bland these statements so often are.

From BBC

Not much happened in Venezuela — or, very anodyne things did.

From Salon

Even more, er, fascinating is that such anodyne language can be used to describe a filmmaker who has always been determined to jolt the viewer out of any sense of complacency.

From Los Angeles Times

And Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. gave a purposely anodyne address to a Washington-based judicial group.

From Los Angeles Times

Quickly the movement became co-opted by an anodyne rallying cry for “girl power.”

From Los Angeles Times