antidote

noun

an·​ti·​dote ˈan-ti-ˌdōt 

1

: a remedy to counteract the effects of poison

needed the antidote for the snake's venom

2

: something that relieves, prevents, or counteracts

an antidote to boredom

antidote transitive verb

Synonyms

• corrective
• curative
• cure
• rectifier
• remedy
• therapeutic
• therapy

Examples of antidote in a Sentence

There is no antidote to this poison.

For him, racing motorcycles is a great antidote to boredom.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump is remembered by many here as a refreshing antidote to the hard-line policy that has become the default in Washington. —Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024

Traveling and eating locally becomes an antidote to globalization. —Tinbete Ermyas, NPR, 3 June 2024

For some Mexicans, a thrills-free woman may be an ideal antidote to an entertaining man who plunged the country into partisan turmoil. —Natalie Kitroeff, New York Times, 30 May 2024

According to Pliny, deer also knew an antidote for toxic plants: wild artichokes. —Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English antidot, from Latin antidotum, from Greek antidotos, from feminine of antidotos given as an antidote, from antididonai to give as an antidote, from anti- + didonai to give — more at date

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

antidote

noun

an·​ti·​dote ˈant-i-ˌdōt 

: a remedy to counteract the effects of poison

antidotal

ˌant-i-ˈdōt-ᵊl

adjective

antidotally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

antidote

noun

an·​ti·​dote ˈant-i-ˌdōt 

: a remedy that counteracts the effects of poison