Anodyne
[an-ə-deyen]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Greek, 16th century
1.
Intended to avoid offense or disagreement
2.
Helpful in lessening or relieving pain
Examples of Anodyne in a sentence
"He feared fueling tensions any further, so he kept his remarks as anodyne as possible."
"When you're sick, you want the strongest, most anodyne medicine available."
About Anodyne
While medicines and pharmaceuticals hog most of the spotlight for producing anodyne — or pain-relieving — effects, Tylenol and Advil aren't the only things that can bring physical relief. Anything that can soothe a situation or bring joy can be considered anodyne, like watching the sunset or, yes, watching cute cat videos on YouTube.
Did you Know?
Literally speaking, the Greek origins of anodyne mean "free from pain." Its more modern usage, about avoiding contention or discomfort before it even occurs, is thought to have French roots, as well.
