painkiller
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 5I 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.
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.
Do you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.
Do you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.
Synonymes
Famille de mots
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
I usually take a mild painkiller when I feel a headache coming on.
everydayI usually take a mild painkiller when I feel a headache coming on.
The patient was administered a strong intravenous painkiller to manage post-surgical distress.
formalThe patient was administered a strong intravenous painkiller to manage post-surgical distress.
Do you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.
informalDo you have any painkillers? My tooth is really throbbing.
Clinical trials indicate that this specific painkiller has fewer side effects than its predecessors.
academicClinical trials indicate that this specific painkiller has fewer side effects than its predecessors.
The marketing department is focusing on the 'fast-acting' nature of our new painkiller brand.
businessThe marketing department is focusing on the 'fast-acting' nature of our new painkiller brand.
Synonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
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
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
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
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