Anodyne vs Soporific - What's the difference?

In figuratively|lang=en terms the difference between anodyne and soporific

is that anodyne is (figuratively) a source of relaxation or comfort while soporific is (figuratively) something boring or dull.

As adjectives the difference between anodyne and soporific

is that anodyne is capable]] of [[soothe|soothing or eliminating pain while soporific is tending to induce sleep.

As nouns the difference between anodyne and soporific

is that anodyne is (pharmacology) any medicine or other agent that relieves pain while soporific is something inducing sleep, especially a drug.

anodyne

English

Adjective

(en adjective)

Capable]] of [[soothe, soothing or eliminating pain.

* 1847 , Littell's Living Age , number 161, 12 June 1847, in Volume 13, page 483:

Many a time has the vapor of ether been inhaled for the relief of oppressed lungs; many a time has the sought relief been thus obtained; and just so many times has the discovery of the wonderful anodyne properties of this gas, as affecting all bodily suffering, been brushed past and overlooked.

* 1910 , Edward L. Keyes, Diseases of the Genito-Urinary Organs , page 211:

The citrate is the most efficient as an alkali, but irritates some stomachs, the liquor the most anodyne , the acetate the most diuretic.

(figuratively) Soothing or relaxing.

Classical music is rather anodyne .

Noncontentious, blandly agreeable, unlikely to cause offence or debate; bland, inoffensive.

* 2003 , The Guardian , 20 May 2003:

It all became so routine, so anodyne , so dull.

* 2010 , "Rattled", The Economist , 9 Dec 2010:

States typically like to stick to anodyne messages, like saving wildflowers or animals. But every so often a controversy crops up.

Noun

(en noun)

(pharmacology) Any medicine or other agent that relieves pain.

(figuratively) A source of relaxation or comfort.

*1890 , (Oscar Wilde), The Picture of Dorian Gray , ch. VII:

*:The air was heavy with the perfume of the flowers, and their beauty seemed to bring him an anodyne for his pain.

*1929 , (Virginia Woolf), A Room of One's Own , page 79:

So, with a sigh, because novels so often provide an anodyne and not an antidote, glide one into torpid slumbers instead of rousing one with a burning brand.

Derived terms

* anodynia * anodynous

References

* *

Anagrams

soporific

English

Alternative forms

* soporifick (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)

Something inducing sleep, especially a drug.

The doctor prescribed a soporific to help the patient sleep.

(figuratively) Something boring or dull.

Synonyms

* See also

Adjective

(en adjective)

Tending to induce sleep.

The professor delivered a soporific lecture.

For we are not here to understand, as perhaps some have, that an author actually falls asleep while he is writing. It is true, that readers are too apt to be so overtaken; To say the truth, these soporific parts are so many scenes of serious artfully interwoven, in order to contrast and set off the rest;

* 1909 , (Beatrix Potter), (The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies) , [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14220/14220-h/14220-h.htm]:

It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is “soporific'.” ''I'' have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then ''I'' am not a rabbit. They certainly had a very ' soporific effect upon the Flopsy Bunnies!

(lb) boring, dull

Synonyms

* See also