anti-inflammatory

adjective

an·​ti-in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry ˌan-tē-in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

ˌan-tī-

variants or less commonly anti-inflammation

ˌan-tē-ˌin-flə-ˈmā-shən,

ˌan-tī- 

: counteracting inflammation : used to prevent or reduce inflammation

anti-inflammatory painkillers

anti-inflammatory effects

an anti-inflammation diet

anti-inflammatory noun

plural anti-inflammatories

Examples of anti-inflammatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In traditional recipes, cooked chickpeas are pureed and blended with other anti-inflammatory superfoods—including extra virgin olive oil, tahini, garlic, and lemon.1 Adding sweet ingredients, like cocoa and sugar, to make a dessert hummus is often a healthier option than other sweet treats. —Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 24 Sep. 2023

Ginger Extract Ginger extract can produce powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that will prevent oxidative damage and stress to the joints. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023

Spirulina, a blue algae chock-full of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and restorative actions. —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2023

According to a survey of 1,123 pharmacists conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, anti-inflammatory drugs, antimicrobials, hormonal medications and oral liquid medicines are also hard to come by. —Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2023

Taking supplements with ashwagandha, which has been shown to reduce stress, support healthy cortisol, and enhance sleep quality, and has anti-inflammatory properties that may protect the scalp from environmental stressors and reduces inflammation around the follicles, according to Dr. Green. —Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2023

However, the key difference is ibuprofen is also a more potent anti-inflammatory medication, helpful for swelling that occurs with fevers. —Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023

The cherry blossom flower extract also has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that make for a calming masking experience. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023

The most common cause of peptic ulcers is long-term use of anti-inflammatory pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen, according to Dr. Lawrence Kosinski of the American Gastroenterological Association. —Jonel Aleccia, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

anti-inflammatory

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti-in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry -in-ˈflam-ə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- 

variants also anti-inflammation

-ˌin-flə-ˈmā-shən 

: reducing or counteracting inflammation

Ibuprofen was the anti-inflammatory drug most commonly used, but others, including naprosyn, also were taken.

—Laurie McGinley, The Wall Street Journal

Most anti-inflammatory drugs target the arachidonic acid cascade, which produces two major mediators of inflammatory responses, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Nonsteroidal drugs can dam only one side of the cascade—they block production of prostaglandins but leave the leukotrienes unaffected. Steroidal drugs block both routes, but their side effects can make them an undesirable, though sometimes irreplaceable, treatment.

—L. Davis, Science News

A recent boon to the eczema-prone is a growing array of over-the-counter cortisone anti-inflammation applications.

—Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News

anti-inflammatory

2 of 2 noun

plural anti-inflammatories

: an anti-inflammatory agent : a drug (as aspirin or ibuprofen) that reduces inflammation

Without anti-inflammatories, gouty attacks subside on their own—but may require several painful weeks, as opposed to the day or two required with anti-inflammatories.

—Harvard Medical School Health Letter