an·ti·vi·ral
ˌan-tē-ˈvī-rəl 
ˌan-tī-
: an antiviral agent and especially a drug
antivirals used in treating influenza
Examples of antiviral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Allison Aubrey, NPR, 19 Jan. 2026
For them, as for people who are hospitalized for flu, antiviral therapy may be recommended and thus testing for the flu can be helpful.
—Zachary W. Binder, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026
If someone has symptoms for more than five days, doctors say antivirals may not be very effective.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antiviral
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Adjective
Half the participants will take lamivudine, which is an antiviral medication, and the other half of the participants will take rapamycin, which has long been prescribed to transplant patients to prevent organ rejection.
—Allison Aubrey, NPR, 19 Jan. 2026
For them, as for people who are hospitalized for flu, antiviral therapy may be recommended and thus testing for the flu can be helpful.
—Zachary W. Binder, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
Health experts also remind people that antivirals are available, and so far there's no evidence that subclade K reduces their efficacy.
—New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026
If someone has symptoms for more than five days, doctors say antivirals may not be very effective.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antiviral
Cite this Entry
“Antiviral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiviral. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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