anesthetic 1 of 2

1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect

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2
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security he used total immersion in his job as an anesthetic for the empty shell that his marriage had become

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anesthetic

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anesthetic
Noun
The executioner who initiates the flow of lethal chemicals into Tanzi's body then enters the room to begin the state's three-drug protocol — beginning with etomidate, an anesthetic, followed by rocuronium bromide, a paralytic, and potassium acetate, which will induce cardiac arrest. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 This combination of epinephrine and local anesthetic has captured his attention over the years. Pj Bremier, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Adjective
To commit the killings, the doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic inducer and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their knowledge or consent, according to prosecutors. Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025 In one study, the topical anesthetic combination of hydrocortisone and pramoxine (found in some over-the-counter eczema lotions) was effective for short- and long-term itch relief.9 4. Mark Gurarie, Health, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
  • Jeff Getting: The evidence introduced at the trial was … contained in the autopsy report, which didn't find any significant evidence of sedatives … But Kate Fox also testified that Linda had discussed ways of getting rid of her husband, including running him over with a car.
    Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 May 2025
  • Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Corrections Department.
    Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Ulbricht had been given a life sentence in 2015 for multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics and money laundering.
    Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • But the agency has recently renewed a push to tighten security around mail citing a smuggling tactic where pages of letters or books are soaked with narcotics.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • One of the primary appeals of medical marijuana is its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
    Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
  • The term is an adjective that has also become a noun, describing one of the most common analgesic procedures available in modern medicine.
    Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • According to the municipal code, tranquilizers can be used as a means of capture.
    Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
  • The amount of fentanyl appears to be dropping (see above), while the amount of animal tranquilizers, such as medetomidine and xylazine, is rising.
    Brian Mann, NPR, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The child tested positive for fentanyl and opiates, officials said.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
  • According to federal experts, fentanyl can be made cheaply and in large quantities in labs, and is far more potent than natural opiates like heroin or morphine.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Viewers will nonetheless find themselves under the series’ hypnotic hold.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2025
  • Ramsay, working with master cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, builds a world of images that’s hypnotic one minute and jolting you awake the next.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Trump administration has been relentless about scrubbing government websites of all mentions of climate change, no matter how anodyne, but this was gentle stuff.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Take something as seemingly anodyne as solving math problems, which can sometimes be a surprising weakness in LLMs.
    Steven Levy, Wired News, 28 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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