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
Chris Mueller, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 14 Jan. 2026
In Japan, where antivirals are widely used, nearly everyone with a flu-like illness gets a routine rapid test and, if necessary, antivirals, both largely covered by the public health-care system.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
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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
Taking influenza antivirals as prescribed.
—Chris Mueller, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 14 Jan. 2026
In Japan, where antivirals are widely used, nearly everyone with a flu-like illness gets a routine rapid test and, if necessary, antivirals, both largely covered by the public health-care system.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antiviral
Cite this Entry
“Antiviral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiviral. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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