B2 noun Neutre

painkiller

/ˈpeɪnˌkɪl.ər/

A drug or medicine used to reduce or remove physical pain. It is a broad term that covers everything from mild over-the-counter tablets like aspirin to powerful prescription medications used after surgery.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

I usually take a mild painkiller when I feel a headache coming on.

I usually take a mild painkiller when I feel a headache coming on.

2

The patient was administered a strong intravenous painkiller to manage post-surgical distress.

The patient was administered a strong intravenous painkiller to manage post-surgical distress.

3

Do you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.

Do you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.

Famille de mots

Nom
painkiller
Adjectif
pain-killing
Apparenté
pain
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of it as a compound word: 'Pain' + 'Killer'. It is a medicine that literally 'kills' the pain you are feeling.

Quiz rapide

If your back still hurts, you should take a ______.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : painkiller

Exemples

1

I usually take a mild painkiller when I feel a headache coming on.

everyday

I usually take a mild painkiller when I feel a headache coming on.

2

The patient was administered a strong intravenous painkiller to manage post-surgical distress.

formal

The patient was administered a strong intravenous painkiller to manage post-surgical distress.

3

Do you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.

informal

Do you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.

4

Clinical trials indicate that this specific painkiller has fewer side effects than its predecessors.

academic

Clinical trials indicate that this specific painkiller has fewer side effects than its predecessors.

5

The marketing department is focusing on the 'fast-acting' nature of our new painkiller brand.

business

The marketing department is focusing on the 'fast-acting' nature of our new painkiller brand.

Famille de mots

Nom
painkiller
Adjectif
pain-killing
Apparenté
pain

Collocations courantes

take a painkiller to consume a pain-relieving medicine
strong painkiller a medication with high potency for severe pain
over-the-counter painkiller medicine available without a doctor's prescription
prescription painkiller medicine that requires a formal order from a doctor
addicted to painkillers having a physical or mental dependency on these drugs

Phrases Courantes

pop a painkiller

informal way of saying to take a pill quickly

natural painkiller

substances like endorphins that the body produces to stop pain

stiff dose of painkillers

a large or strong amount of pain medication

Souvent confondu avec

painkiller vs anesthetic

An anesthetic causes a loss of sensation or consciousness, whereas a painkiller specifically reduces the feeling of pain while keeping the patient awake/feeling other sensations.

📝

Notes d'usage

The word is generally used for any substance that alleviates pain. It is more common in daily speech than 'analgesic', which is the medical term.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often forget that it is a countable noun, so they should say 'a painkiller' or 'some painkillers' rather than just 'painkiller' in a general sense.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of it as a compound word: 'Pain' + 'Killer'. It is a medicine that literally 'kills' the pain you are feeling.

📖

Origine du mot

A compound of 'pain' (from Old French 'peine') and 'killer' (from the verb 'kill').

Modèles grammaticaux

Countable noun Regular plural: painkillers Often used with the verbs 'take', 'prescribe', or 'need'
🌍

Contexte culturel

In many English-speaking countries, over-the-counter painkillers are widely available in supermarkets and convenience stores, leading to high consumption rates.

Quiz rapide

If your back still hurts, you should take a ______.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : painkiller

Mots lis

homovestency

C1

Refers to the practice or state of wearing clothing that corresponds to one's own biological sex or gender identity. It is a technical term used primarily in psychological and sociological contexts to distinguish traditional dressing habits from cross-dressing or transvestism.

binavent

C1

To divide a single process, stream, or strategy into two distinct but parallel channels or outcomes. It is primarily used in technical or procedural contexts to describe the intentional and strategic splitting of resources or workflows to increase efficiency or manage complexity.

subclamious

C1

Describing a sound or environment that is moderately noisy or somewhat clamorous. It refers to a level of vocalization or background noise that is audible and potentially disruptive but falls short of a full, overwhelming clamor.

autographhood

C1

The state, quality, or condition of being an autograph or a handwritten original document. It refers to the status of a text or signature as having been personally inscribed by the individual it is attributed to.

prologcide

C1

Describing an action, policy, or mindset that involves the intentional destruction, removal, or bypassing of a prologue or introductory phase. It characterizes anything that seeks to eliminate the 'start' to reach the core or conclusion immediately.

inlegal

C1

A non-standard or archaic variation of the word 'illegal', referring to actions or conditions that are prohibited by law or official regulations. In modern English, it is primarily used as a distractor in language proficiency tests or found in non-native speech before prefix assimilation occurs.

hyperfacsion

C1

Describing a state of extreme fragmentation or division within a group, organization, or political body into numerous, often hostile, competing factions. It implies a level of discord where constructive cooperation is paralyzed by excessive micro-divisions.

dispetism

C1

To engage in a systematic and often petty rejection of established norms or authoritative directives. It describes the act of obstructing progress through deliberate non-compliance or by treating formal requirements with calculated contempt.

interautoite

C1

To automatically synchronize or integrate multiple autonomous systems or self-regulating processes into a unified whole. It is used to describe the seamless interaction between independent units that function without external intervention.

autolaudible

C1

Describing speech, writing, or behavior that is characterized by self-praise or self-commendation. It refers to the act of highlighting one's own merits or achievements, often used in a critical sense to imply vanity.

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