ENGLISH
REFERENCE

painkiller

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈpeɪnˌkɪɫɝ// UK //pˈeɪŋkɪlɐ// painkiller

n. a medicine that you take to make a physical injury or illness less painful. You might take one for a headache or a broken arm.

n. a drug or substance used to relieve physical pain. Often used in the plural to refer to the general category of analgesics.


SIMPLE

She took a painkiller for her headache.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor prescribed a stronger painkiller after the patient's surgery to help manage the initial recovery phase.

COMPLEX

While over-the-counter painkillers are effective for minor aches, chronic conditions often require a more nuanced approach involving physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments.

Synonyms
Origin

From pain + killer.

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