antalgic
adjective
an·tal·gic
an-ˈtal-jik 
1
: marked by or being an unnatural position or movement assumed by someone to minimize or alleviate pain or discomfort (as in the leg or back)
Without even thinking about it, we adjust the way we walk to avoid putting too much pressure on a creaky joint because otherwise it hurts. Experts call this the antalgic … or pain avoidance, gait.—
Harvard Health Letter
Harvard Health LetterThe patient came into my office with the classic antalgic stoop. She was bent over almost 90 degrees …—Douglas R. Briggs, Dynamic Chiropractic
Douglas R. Briggs, Dynamic Chiropractican antalgic spine
2
: relieving pain : analgesic
It is necessary to reduce catecholamine increase due to pain caused by the burn agents, by administering adequate antalgic therapy.—B. Mazzarella et al., in The Management of Mass Burn Casualties and Fire Disasters
B. Mazzarella et al., in The Management of Mass Burn Casualties and Fire Disastersan antalgic effect
Cite this Entry
“Antalgic.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/antalgic. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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