palliative

1 of 2

adjective

pal·​li·​a·​tive ˈpa-lē-ˌā-tiv How to pronounce palliative (audio) ˈpal-yə- How to pronounce palliative (audio)
: serving to palliate
palliative surgery
palliative care
palliative drugs
palliatively adverb

palliative

2 of 2

noun

: something that palliates

Examples of palliative in a Sentence

Noun The disease has no cure, but a number of palliatives exist. Travel is like a palliative against depression for him. symbolic palliatives for inner-city troubles
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This is a great way to team up with your healthcare professionals to provide the best palliative care possible. Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Advertisement An oncologist widely known as a pioneer in the medical specialty of hospice and palliative medicine, von Gunten is particularly interested in integrating hospice and palliative care into standard medical care. San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2023 His brother, Mark, also a physician, left palliative care entirely. Alexander Raikin, National Review, 14 Sep. 2023 There’s little morphine or other painkillers for palliative care. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2024 Irwin explained that he’s been in palliative care since day one after learning about the cancer. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 2 Feb. 2024 The edelweiss extract acts in a palliative capacity (read: no stinging), and kombucha helps produce the most noticeable immediate effect: a more radiant-looking face. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2024 In July, a professional gathering on palliative psychiatry was held in Toronto. Katie Engelhart, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2024 Virginia Boothe, a palliative care physician, retired at 69. Marc Fisher, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023
Noun
In the interim, however, the Africans can enjoy a credit palliative from the immediate strains. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Tinubu, meanwhile, has directed the release of food items such as cereals from government reserves among other palliatives to help cushion the effect of the hardship. Chinedu Asadu, Quartz, 17 Feb. 2024 Best of all, Story has rekindled her love of the piano, which has been a crucial palliative during a time of great personal challenge. Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 22 Nov. 2023 As an audio storyteller, he was drawn to many of the sonic elements of the church environment — particularly sermons and their joint role as a form of instruction and palliative. Ariel Shapiro, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2023 Carboplatin in particular — in combination with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel — has remained unchallenged as the go-to for ovarian cancer, in particular when the treatment could be curative, rather than palliative. Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 16 Aug. 2023 But scores of experiments now show that exercise is much more than a temporary distraction from mental woes or some ultimately inconsequential palliative. Ferris Jabr, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2017 But don’t mistake a Sinéad O’Connor song for some kind of palliative. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 27 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'palliative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of palliative was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near palliative

Cite this Entry

“Palliative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palliative. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

palliative

1 of 2 adjective
pal·​li·​a·​tive ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv How to pronounce palliative (audio) ˈpal-yət- How to pronounce palliative (audio)
: serving to palliate

palliative

2 of 2 noun
: something that palliates

Medical Definition

palliative

1 of 2 adjective
pal·​lia·​tive ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv How to pronounce palliative (audio) ˈpal-yət- How to pronounce palliative (audio)
: reducing the severity of a disease or condition without curing it : providing palliative care
palliative treatment
Although valve replacement is an important advance in the treatment of patients with valve disease, it is a palliative rather than a curative procedure.Robert A. O'Rourke, The Journal of the American Medical Association
palliatively adverb

palliative

2 of 2 noun
: something that reduces the severity of a disease or condition without curing it
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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