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
Four friends want to speed up the process and do it in a week using an anesthetic gas. Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 13 May 2025 Ketamine is known as a dissociative anesthetic or dissociative hallucinogen. David Oliver, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Adjective
The anesthetic, long used for surgery and in emergency room settings, has more recently been used as an experimental treatment for some mental illnesses. Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 17 June 2025 Many studies have reported an association between multiple general anesthetics and dementia; this association remains controversial. Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for anesthetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anesthetic
Noun
  • Kelson has learned to live in peace surrounded by violence, and chooses to subdue the infected with sedatives rather than slay them.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Sometimes, passengers combine sedatives with alcohol on a long flight, which can easily turn into an in-flight incident meriting an emergency landing and an arrest.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • The suspects, who included minors, were apprehended at or near a Hays County residence, and narcotics were seized, officials said in a statement Wednesday.
    Elizabeth Zavala, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Police officials in a statement Monday said the man appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and was later found to be in possession of cocaine.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • For extra strength, search for analgesic throat lozenges, which contain additional pain-fighting ingredients like menthol or benzocaine.
    Jenna Anderson, Health, 26 June 2025
  • One of the primary appeals of medical marijuana is its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
    Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • She was charged for intentionally distributing a drug called Tranq — a mix of Fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer Xylazine.
    Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
  • The drug, which is commonly used as a tranquilizer for large animals in veterinary medicine, causes extreme sedation, slow breathing and skin ulcers when ingested by humans.
    Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Members of Hinge Health can access virtual exercise therapy and an electrical nerve stimulation device called Enso that’s designed to serve as an alternative to pain medications like opiates.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Some of these common drugs include antacids, antidepressants, blood pressure medication, iron supplements, and opiates (narcotics). Polyps or tumors: A blockage in the intestine caused by a large growth (a polyp) or a tumor prevents stool from passing.
    Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • The aquarium has been a pioneer from the start, unveiling the world’s first living kelp forest exhibit and debuting large-scale displays of jellyfish—hypnotic creatures that pulse rhythmically through the glowing blue waters.
    Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Even so, as Jerry delivers his hokum, Offerman invests it with a hypnotic clarity, a sense that Jerry is trying to create a rational and just world — to create salvation — out of the irrational.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • And while Barstool’s controversial founder, Dave Portnoy, who also became a character in the contract drama, offers a few anodyne words of praise for Cooper in the doc, Franklyn is only glimpsed in archival footage.
    Judy Berman, Time, 10 June 2025
  • Alison Ellwood’s Boy George & Culture Club is a solid example of this anodyne trend.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025

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“Anesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anesthetic. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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