palliative

adjective

pal·li·a·tive | \ ˈpa-lē-ˌā-tiv

, ˈpal-yə-

Definition of palliative

(Entry 1 of 2)

: serving to palliate palliative surgery palliative care palliative drugs

palliative

noun

Definition of palliative (Entry 2 of 2)

: something that palliates

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Examples of palliative in a Sentence

Noun

The disease has no cure, but a number of palliatives exist. Travel is like a palliative against depression for him. symbolic palliatives for inner-city troubles

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Many of the patients who died were on ventilators and receiving palliative care. — Kantele Franko, Anchorage Daily News, "Ohio doctor accused of murder in 25 patient overdose deaths," 6 June 2019 In addition to palliative care, the Shiley Foundation has made major contributions to education, the arts, medical research and community services. — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Shiley gives $2.6 million to palliative care institute at Cal State San Marcos," 12 June 2019 Many of the patients who died were on ventilators and receiving palliative care. — Kantele Franko, Anchorage Daily News, "Ohio doctor accused of murder in 25 patient overdose deaths," 6 June 2019 Many of the patients who died were on ventilators and receiving palliative care. — Kantele Franko, Anchorage Daily News, "Ohio doctor accused of murder in 25 patient overdose deaths," 6 June 2019 Many of the patients who died were on ventilators and receiving palliative care. — Kantele Franko, chicagotribune.com, "Ohio doctor accused of murder in fentanyl overdose deaths of 25 patients," 5 June 2019 Many of the patients who died were on ventilators and receiving palliative care. — Washington Post, "Doctor accused of murder in 25 patient overdose deaths," 5 June 2019 The study results didn’t surprise Brooke Worster, program director for palliative care services at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. — Mary Bernard, Philly.com, "Will that tattoo hurt you professionally? Not if you're a doctor, study finds," 9 July 2018 Planning for the end The data scientists partnered with Penn’s palliative care program to develop Palliative Connect. — Ian Haydon, Philly.com, "Working to save lives, Philly physicians find way to help patients confront death," 26 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The focus remains the same: comfort and palliative care, including pain medications, in a patient’s final months of life. — Christopher Rowland, Washington Post, "Hospices go unpunished for reported maggots and uncontrolled pain, watchdog finds," 9 July 2019 The reports did not log data on opioids used to treat opioid use disorder, cancer patients or those who receive hospice or palliative care. — Ryan Faircloth, Twin Cities, "Minnesota health care providers to receive reports on their opioid prescribing practices," 28 June 2019 And in her role as the Royal Patron of East Anglia's Children’s Hospices, Kate understands how crucial hospices and palliative care services can be for many families. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kate Middleton Pens an Emotional Letter Supporting Children's Hospice Week," 17 June 2019 His clinical trial is the first step toward getting mifepristone approved as a palliative therapy. — Marie Mccullough, Philly.com, "Can the abortion pill treat advanced lung cancer? This infertility expert wants to find out," 3 July 2018 Under the law, patients must administer the drug to themselves, and his or her attending physician would be required to offer other treatment options, including palliative care. — Mike Catalini, The Seattle Times, "New Jersey law allows terminally ill to get life-ending meds," 13 Apr. 2019 With the national hospice and palliative care movements only beginning, our discussions with this man and his wife focused mostly on which chemotherapies might be able to prolong his life. — WSJ, "The Top Five Health Posts of 2018 from The Experts," 31 Dec. 2018 Paralyzed, and using a feeding tube, Mr. Perry was moved to a palliative-care center. — Thomas M. Burton, WSJ, "For Treating Severe Strokes, All Hospitals Aren’t Equal," 28 Nov. 2018 Dental, vision, and mental care will be covered, as will inpatient care, outpatient care, primary care, preventative care, palliative care, ambulatory care, emergency care, maternal care, and newborn care. — Tim Higginbotham And Chris Middleman, Vox, "“Medicare-for-all” means something. Don’t let moderates water it down.," 13 July 2018

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

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11 Jul 2019

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The first known use of palliative was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for palliative

palliative

noun

English Language Learners Definition of palliative

medical : something that reduces the effects or symptoms of a medical condition without curing it

formal : something that is intended to make a bad situation seem better but that does not really improve the situation

See the full definition for palliative in the English Language Learners Dictionary

palliative

adjective

pal·lia·tive | \ ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv

, ˈpal-yət-

Medical Definition of palliative

(Entry 1 of 2)

: reducing the severity of a disease or condition without curing it : providing palliative care palliative treatment Although valve replacement is an important advance in the treatment of patients with valve disease, it is a palliative rather than a curative procedure.— Robert A. O'Rourke, The Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 Aug. 1982