anodyne 1 of 2

adjective

ˈa-nə-ˌdīn How to pronounce anodyne (audio)
Definition of anodynenext
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt the otherwise anodyne comments sounded quite inflammatory when taken out of context

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

anodyne

2 of 2

noun

1
as in sedative
something (as a drug) that relieves pain the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in narcotic
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security as an anodyne for the stress and superficiality of the modern world, there's nothing better than reading a literary classic of substance and insight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anodyne
Adjective
The two use cases presented were pretty anodyne; the glasses can capture an image and Gemini can answer questions about it and provide more information. — Cortney Harding, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026 While the photos on the pamphlets are anodyne—cheerful workers on assembly lines—the text offers a dire warning of looming job cuts, accusing Germany’s traditional unions of selling out workers. — William Wilkes, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
As head of state, the British monarch is expected to remain publicly neutral on political matters, and the queen’s addresses tend to be broad, anodyne and even a little opaque. — New York Times, 24 Dec. 2019 The result of all that rulemaking and political sensitivity is the anodyne Covid-19. — Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Feb. 2020 See All Example Sentences for anodyne
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anodyne
  1. harmless
  2. sedative
  3. narcotic
  4. benign
  5. analgesic
  6. opiate
  7. safe
  8. tranquilizer
Adjective
  • From the risk of leaks and water damage to potential electrical issues, a seemingly harmless load of laundry can occasionally turn into an expensive problem.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Even moderate drinking carries risk and is not as harmless as people, including experts, once thought.
    — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of harmless
Noun
  • Native to the Pacific Islands, its active compounds (kavalactones) act directly on the brain's GABA receptors much like a mild sedative and are typically used for acute anxiety or insomnia.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • All Florida executions are carried out by lethal injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Definition of sedative
Noun
  • Youssef alleged the property later became associated with gang activity, narcotics activity, prostitution and violence.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • In Flossie’s new deal with Raq, her ladies now also deliver narcotics to buyers.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 July 2026
Definition of narcotic
Adjective
  • But at that point, the headlines were still focused on relatively benign annoyances like car engines conking out, or a bridge getting stuck on Roosevelt Road.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Such a seemingly benign move puts Ethiopia in opposition to China’s monopoly and is a rebuke of the former object of Ethiopian emulation.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of benign
Noun
  • But the 7-OH industry has organized against the potential prohibition, claiming 7-OH is kratom, despite only appearing in trace amounts within the leaves of the kratom plant, and that its benefits as an analgesic outweigh its potential harms.
    — Mattha Busby, Wired News, 15 June 2026
  • Across all participants, 81% reduced their use of oral analgesics, and the suppository was well-tolerated, with most participants willing to use it again.
    — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of analgesic
Noun
  • So far this year, alcohol has become EPICC’s leading referral category, followed by methamphetamine and opiates.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
  • Once drug use crossed class and racial lines, the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act was passed in 1914, a federal law criminalizing the sale and use of opiates.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 May 2026
Definition of opiate
Adjective
  • Air conditioning will be keeping millions of Americans safe and comfortable over the holiday weekend as a heat dome brings dangerous conditions to millions.
    — Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Los Robles officials said that staff, patients and visitors were safe and that medical care was not interrupted at the hospital.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of safe
Noun
  • Other monkeys, including some of the larger and more dominant macaques, had to be subdued with tranquilizer darts before they could be captured.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • The worrisome drug withdrawal popping up in jails A powerful tranquilizer has started to accompany fentanyl in the country’s illicit opioid supply, and jails are struggling to handle the drug’s excruciating, complicated withdrawal symptoms.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 June 2026
Definition of tranquilizer

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“Anodyne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anodyne. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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