antidote

noun an·ti·dote \ ˈan-ti-ˌdōt \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of antidote

1 : a remedy to counteract the effects of poison

needed the antidote for the snake's venom

2 : something that relieves, prevents, or counteracts

an antidote to boredom

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antidote

transitive verb

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Examples of antidote in a Sentence

There is no antidote to this poison.
For him, racing motorcycles is a great antidote to boredom.

Recent Examples of antidote from the Web

The tracking system, believed to be the first of its kind in California, collects the names and phone numbers of people who overdosed on opioids and who received the emergency overdose antidote naloxone from first responders.

— catherine ho, San Francisco Chronicle, "Marin says new opioid overdose tracking program shows progress," 11 May 2018
Like The Problem with Apu, Breaking the Bee is a welcome antidote to the narrow-minded xenophobia that South Asian Americans continue to encounter in this country.

— ben zimmer, The Atlantic, "The Infectious Enthusiasm of Breaking the Bee," 11 May 2018
Speaking of rainbow, iridescent electroplated flatware is the antidote to a boring tablescape (and this 12-piece set is $42 at Urban Outfitters).

— asad syrkett, Curbed, "The best spring home goods," 1 May 2018
If Trump is the disease, could Kanye be the antidote?

— michelle ruiz, Vogue, "Kanye West on Twitter Is the Antidote to Donald Trump on Twitter," 18 Apr. 2018
But, Alves says, that scenario would mess with nature because injecting a manmade antidote is not a natural way to cure the disease.

— elaina zachos, National Geographic, "Exclusive: Fatal Disease Likely Found in Lion Cubs for First Time," 11 Apr. 2018
Patients — you and me — need to step up and call it out, to demand action by health care organizations to address it, and to offer a community of care that serves as a powerful antidote to isolation and retreat.

— elizabeth métraux, STAT, "I experienced trauma working in Iraq. I see it now among America’s doctors," 20 Mar. 2018
In that respect, chains are the ideal antidote to isolation.

— jeff gordinier, Esquire, "In Defense of IHOP, and Other Forgotten American Chains," 27 Feb. 2018
One of the direct oral anticoagulants has a true antidote.

— sandy bauers, Philly.com, "5 Questions: Lessons from the early death of Maroon 5 manager Jordan Feldstein," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antidote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of antidote

Middle English antidot, from Latin antidotum, from Greek antidotos, from feminine of antidotos given as an antidote, from antididonai to give as an antidote, from anti- + didonai to give — more at date

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year