immunosuppressive
noun
plural immunosuppressives
: immunosuppressant
The trials may also be too risky for people who are severely immunocompromised—i.e., you have cancer or take immunosuppressives.—
Julia Ries
Julia RiesExamples of immunosuppressive in a Sentence
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In the interim, Annie was already undergoing an intensive immunosuppressive therapy that would soon cause her waist-length blond hair to thin — and eventually fall out.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Individuals with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy for the treatment of disease are at greater risk for severe disease from Vibrio following exposure.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
However, the short-term release of cortisol is not bad, as cortisol is known to have immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 14 June 2023
Some people should not get the vaccine, including pregnant women, people with certain blood disorders or those on prolonged immunosuppressive therapy, and those with a moderate or severe illness, among others.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Mar. 2023
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Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Individuals with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy for the treatment of disease are at greater risk for severe disease from Vibrio following exposure.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
However, the short-term release of cortisol is not bad, as cortisol is known to have immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 14 June 2023
Some people should not get the vaccine, including pregnant women, people with certain blood disorders or those on prolonged immunosuppressive therapy, and those with a moderate or severe illness, among others.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for immunosuppressive
Cite this Entry
“Immunosuppressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immunosuppressive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
immunosuppressive
1 of 2 adjective
im·mu·no·sup·pres·sive
ˌim-yə-nō-sə-ˈpres-iv 
im-ˌyü-nō-
im-ˌyü-nō-
: causing or characterized by immunosuppression
… graft-versus-host disease strikes the skin, gut, liver and lymph tissues and can lead to death unless rapidly brought under control by immunosuppressive drugs.—Joan Arehart-Treichel, Science News
Joan Arehart-Treichel, Science NewsThese drugs may also have immunosuppressive actions, which may contribute to their ability to induce permanent remissions of Graves' disease.—Kiyoshi Hashizume et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Kiyoshi Hashizume et al., The New England Journal of Medicineimmunosuppressive
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
