therapeutic

ther·a·peu·tic

adjective \ˌther-ə-ˈpyü-tik\

Definition of THERAPEUTIC

1

: of or relating to the treatment of disease or disorders by remedial agents or methods <a therapeutic rather than a diagnostic specialty>

2

: providing or assisting in a cure : curative, medicinal <therapeutic diets> <a therapeutic investigation of government waste>

— therapeutic noun

— ther·a·peu·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of THERAPEUTIC

1. the therapeutic benefits of yoga
2. Gardening can be very therapeutic.
3. the therapeutic effects of radiation

Origin of THERAPEUTIC

Greek therapeutikos, from therapeuein to attend, treat, from theraps attendant

First Known Use: 1646

Related to THERAPEUTIC

Synonyms

curative, healing, officinal, remedial, restorative, medicinal

Related Words

healthful, healthy, salubrious, salutary, sanative, wholesome; alleviative, corrective, tonic

Near Antonyms

insalubrious, noisome, noxious, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; deleterious, injurious, pernicious; infectious, poisonous, toxic; adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, detrimental, harmful, hurtful, ill; insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with THERAPEUTIC

hermeneutic, parachutic, propaedeutic

ther·a·peu·tic

adjective \-ˈpyüt-ik\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of THERAPEUTIC

1

: of or relating to the treatment of disease or disorders by remedial agents or methods <a therapeutic rather than a diagnostic specialty>

2

: curative, medicinal <therapeutic activity of a drug> <therapeutic diets>

—ther·a·peu·ti·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb