as in nostrum
something that cures all ills or problems
the wizard's attempts to concoct a theriac for the king came to naught
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Recent Examples of theriac
But with its long list of as many as 80 ingredients and high status, theriac was expensive and exclusive.
—
Elizabeth Heath, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
Zinc lozenges suddenly became the theriac to cure all ills; masks and hand-sanitizer, the ambergris and zedoary to ward off infection.
—Spencer Strub, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2020
Elizabeth Heath, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
Zinc lozenges suddenly became the theriac to cure all ills; masks and hand-sanitizer, the ambergris and zedoary to ward off infection.
—Spencer Strub, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theriac
Noun
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Because of the false but persistent and powerfully seductive nostrum that reducing the value of a country’s currency will stimulate its economy by making its exports cheaper and its imports more expensive.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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But Wolff’s work and influence, alongside a simultaneous rise in the fields of psychology and psychosomatic medicine, helped to disperse those nostrums into the wider culture—and into the prevailing paradigm within which other headache scientists and clinicians toiled.—
Tom Zeller Jr.
July 30,
Literary Hub,
30 July 2025
Noun
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After all, there’s hardly a shortage of tinctures, foams, and other elixirs that promise rapid hair-sprouting benefits.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
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Arenas – a McDonald’s All-American and the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas – was not a magic elixir, and the Trojans struggled to find another solution in a 74-68 loss to a Northwestern team that had been winless in conference play.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In fact, the doctor shortage has led to unwise remedies such as overreliance on PAs.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
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Snow and ice removal experts recommend having certain remedies and products on hand for when salt runs out and supplies can't be replenished before a storm.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Signature massages use organic oils from the Almescar tree, derived from a bioactive resin which acts as a natural insect repellent, curative panacea, and incense.—
Stephanie Rafanelli,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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This doesn’t mean that GLP-1s will be a panacea.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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First, there is no cure for measles.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
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More Effective Ways to Ease a Stomach Bug While there’s no quick cure for viral gastroenteritis, supportive care can make stomach flu symptoms more manageable and reduce the risk of complications like dehydration.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theriac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theriac. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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