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

For example, people who take certain over-the-counter pain medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may experience an increase in blood pressure, which doctors may misdiagnose as a new ailment and prescribe calcium channel blockers as a treatment. —Knvul Sheikh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024

Even common pain medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, cause tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths each year from gastrointestinal damage. —Kevin F. Boehnke, The Conversation, 10 May 2024

Physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications did not help. —Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 10 May 2024

This ingredient also has anti-inflammatory properties that target skin texture for a smoother surface. —Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 9 May 2024

Coal tar: While other formulations, such as selenium sulfide or zinc pyrithione, treat the yeast count on the scalp, tar also has anti-inflammatory properties that can decrease signs of inflammation more quickly, Dr. Kamangar says. —April Benshosan, Verywell Health, 9 May 2024

Many of them have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and may be protective against a host of ills, from cardiovascular disease to cancer to obesity and diabetes. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2024

These alkaloids are responsible for the sharp flavor imparted by black and chili peppers and serve a variety of medicinal purposes, especially due to their anti-inflammatory properties. —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Apr. 2024

The most common treatments are steroids, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drugs, and, as a last resort, surgery to remove any bowel beyond repair. —Andrew Chapman, Longreads, 18 Apr. 2024

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