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.
Examples
3 of 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.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of it as a compound word: 'Pain' + 'Killer'. It is a medicine that literally 'kills' the pain you are feeling.
Quick Quiz
If your back still hurts, you should take a ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: painkiller
Examples
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.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
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
Often Confused With
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.
Usage Notes
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
Memory Tip
Think of it as a compound word: 'Pain' + 'Killer'. It is a medicine that literally 'kills' the pain you are feeling.
Word Origin
A compound of 'pain' (from Old French 'peine') and 'killer' (from the verb 'kill').
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many English-speaking countries, over-the-counter painkillers are widely available in supermarkets and convenience stores, leading to high consumption rates.
Quick Quiz
If your back still hurts, you should take a ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: painkiller
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
unknown
A1A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.
of
A1A preposition used to show a relationship between a part and a whole, or to indicate belonging and origin. It connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence to specify which one or what kind.
in
A1A preposition used to indicate position within a container, a space, an area, or a period of time. It describes being surrounded by something or being inside the boundaries of a location.
it
A1A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to an object, animal, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It is also frequently used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, or distance.
on
A1A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.
as
A1A conjunction used to compare two things that are equal in some way. It is most commonly used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to show similarity.
this
A1Used to identify a specific person, thing, or idea that is physically close to the speaker or has just been mentioned. It can also refer to the present time or a situation that is currently happening.
by
A1A preposition used to show the method or means of doing something, or to identify the person or thing that performs an action. It frequently appears in passive sentences to indicate the agent or before modes of transport.
we
A1The word 'we' is a first-person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people collectively. It is used as the subject of a sentence or clause.
or
A1A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.
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