painkiller

/ˌpeɪnˈkɪlər/

/ˈpeɪnkɪlə/

Other forms: painkillers

A painkiller is a medicine that's used to dull or relieve pain, like the painkiller your dad gives you when you have a bad headache.

Painkillers are meant to do exactly what their name says: to kill pain. You can also call this kind of medication an analgesic. These range from aspirin and acetaminophen, which are sold over the counter to treat minor aches and pains, to powerful anesthetics administered by doctors before surgery. If you get your wisdom teeth removed, you'll most likely need a painkiller during and after the procedure.

Definitions of painkiller

1. noun

   a medicine used to relieve pain
   synonyms: analgesic, anodyne, pain pill

   types:

   Anacin III, Datril, Panadol, Phenaphen, Tempra, Tylenol, acetaminophen

   an analgesic for mild pain but not for inflammation; also used as an antipyretic; (Datril, Tylenol, Panadol, Phenaphen, Tempra, and Anacin III are trademarks of brands of acetaminophen tablets)

   acetanilid, acetanilide, phenylacetamide

   a white crystalline compound used as an analgesic and also as an antipyretic

   acetophenetidin, acetphenetidin, phenacetin

   a white crystalline compound used as an analgesic and also as an antipyretic

   amidopyrine, aminopyrine

   a white crystalline substance used as an analgesic and antipyretic

   Bayer, Empirin, St. Joseph, acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin

   the acetylated derivative of salicylic acid; used as an analgesic anti-inflammatory drug (trade names Bayer, Empirin, and St. Joseph) usually taken in tablet form; used as an antipyretic; slows clotting of the blood by poisoning platelets

   codeine

   derivative of opium; used as an antitussive (to relieve coughing) and an analgesic (to relieve pain)

   colchicine

   an analgesic drug derived from the saffron plant and used to treat gout

   Fentanyl, Sublimaze

   trade names of a narcotic analgesic that can be inhaled and that acts on the central nervous system and may become addictive; used as a veterinary anesthetic and with other drugs before, during, and after surgery; also used as a nonlethal gas to incapacitate people in hostage situations; also abused as a recreational drug

   Dilaudid, hydromorphone, hydromorphone hydrochloride

   a narcotic analgesic (trade name Dilaudid) used to treat moderate to severe pain

   morphia, morphine

   an alkaloid narcotic drug extracted from opium; a powerful, habit-forming narcotic used to relieve pain

   Talwin, pentazocine

   analgesic drug (trade name Talwin) that is less addictive than morphine

   Pyridium, phenazopyridine

   analgesic (trade name Pyridium) used to treat urinary tract infections

   Darvon, propoxyphene, propoxyphene hydrochloride

   a mildly narcotic analgesic drug (trade name Darvon) related to methadone but less addictive

   sodium salicylate

   a crystalline salt used as an analgesic and antipyretic

   apomorphine

   a morphine derivative that is not as strong as morphine; used as an emetic and in small doses as a sedative

   aspirin powder, headache powder

   a powdered form of aspirin

   Bufferin, buffered aspirin

   aspirin coated with a substance capable of neutralizing acid (trade name Bufferin)

   enteric-coated aspirin

   aspirin that is treated to pass through the stomach unaltered and to dissolve in the intestines

   type of:

   medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

   (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease