Definition of theriacnext
as in nostrum
something that cures all ills or problems the wizard's attempts to concoct a theriac for the king came to naught

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theriac
Noun
  • Anderson found the origins of present fads in the fervent nostrums of the past.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • Many of the cultural icons who are seeking the elixir of youth are missing an important point.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Take a look at my medicine cabinet, stuffed with $200+ elixirs, and decide for yourself.
    Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The second will determine an appropriate remedy if the jury and judge find in Musk’s favor.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Jury selection starts Monday, but jurors won’t have the final say in either the liability phase of the trial or the remedies phase, if the trial reaches that point.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Parrots make lime green flashes in sacred Almescar trees, a panacea of the indigenous Pataxó community.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Not a panacea Experts cautioned that EVs won’t fully solve problems around the green transition and energy security.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There is no cure yet, though treatments do exist to help manage symptoms.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The disease, which often kills patients in their teens, has no cure.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Theriac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theriac. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster