palliative

adjective pal·li·a·tive \ ˈpa-lē-ˌā-tiv , ˈpal-yə- \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Examples: palliative in a Sentence

Definition of palliative

: serving to palliate

palliative surgery

palliative care

palliative drugs

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palliatively

adverb

See palliative defined for kids

Recent Examples of palliative from the Web

At MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, palliative care specialist Dr. Ishwaria Subbiah now devotes extra time to choosing painkillers as availability changes.

— linda a. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "The other opioid crisis: Hospitals grapple with prolonged injected opioid shortage," 28 June 2018
For example, Crossroads palliative specialists recently were asked to help a terminal patient of Native American heritage who was on a ventilator.

— guest columnist/cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Hospice and palliative experts extend family doctor's care at end of life: Dr. Walter George (Opinion)," 15 Apr. 2018
His father’s palliative care team has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday afternoon.

— karen weintraub, STAT, "An anti-aging researcher faces the loss of his inspiration: his 96-year-old father," 20 June 2018
They were joined by a team of nurses, social workers, therapists, and specialists in ethics, psychology, and palliative care.

— tom avril, Philly.com, "He had 2 heart transplants. At 43, as a new dad, he needed a third," 13 June 2018
The appeals court and European Court of Human Rights upheld the original ruling: that Evans should be taken off life support and provided with palliative care.

— tara isabella burton, Vox, "The controversy surrounding terminally ill British toddler Alfie Evans, explained," 27 Apr. 2018
Early palliative care can even potentially extend survival in complex and chronic diseases.

— amanda alladin, m.d., miamiherald, "Pediatric palliative care: living with hope and quality throughout illness | Miami Herald," 24 Apr. 2018
Cake’s other cofounder, palliative care doctor Mark Zhang, isn’t surprised by the reluctance.

— robert weisman, BostonGlobe.com, "End-of-life software has a problem: Users who don’t want to think about it," 10 Feb. 2018
But 5% of heart failure remains refractory to medical treatment, and in these patients palliative care has been shown to improve patient satisfaction and decrease costs.

— marc siegel, WSJ, "Barbara Bush Faces Death With Courage," 16 Apr. 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.

First Known Use of palliative

15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

palliative

noun

Definition of palliative

: something that palliates

See palliative defined for English-language learners

Examples of palliative in a Sentence

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 of palliative from the Web

Harman was not involved in the new research but has also applied machine learning techniques in her field to identify patients who may benefit from palliative care interventions.

— orly nadell farber, STAT, "Are we spending too much on the dying? New research challenges this widely held view," 28 June 2018
There was something unique about this palliative-care consultation, however.

— ian haydon, Philly.com, "Working to save lives, Philly physicians find way to help patients confront death," 26 June 2018
The palliative care team is encouraging him to dial back on his father’s aggressive care.

— karen weintraub, BostonGlobe.com, "A doctor wages personal and professional battles against aging," 23 June 2018
Keep in mind that palliative care may also be an option.

— stacey burling, Philly.com, "How to know when it's time for hospice," 22 June 2018
Arnold was moved to Sycamores nursing home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire for palliative care, but died on April 30.

— aletha adu, Fox News, "Woman dies 10 days after her husband of 46 years passes away," 10 June 2018
Worse, the guidance is largely based on opinion because research is lacking, said Salimah H. Meghani, a nursing professor and palliative care expert, and co-author Neha Vapiwala, a radiation oncologist.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "Opioid prescribing guidelines frustrate cancer doctors as well as their patients," 7 June 2018
Her family would like to thank the ICU and the doctors, nurses, nurse's assistants, and palliative and hospice care at Hartford Hospital for the wonderful care given to her over the past 5 plus weeks.

— courant.com, "Maria C. Vieira," 18 May 2018
Kate, 36, has seen first-hand the lifeline support provided by children’s hospices and palliative care charities.

— phil boucher, PEOPLE.com, "Kate Middleton Offers Rare Glimpse Into Her 'Simple' Family Life with George, Charlotte and Louis," 25 May 2018

First Known Use of palliative

1656

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

PALLIATIVE Defined for English Language Learners

palliative

noun

Definition of palliative for English Language Learners

medical : something that reduces the effects or symptoms of a medical condition without curing it
: something that is intended to make a bad situation seem better but that does not really improve the situation

Medical Dictionary

palliative

adjective pal·lia·tive \ ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv , ˈpal-yət- \

medical Definition of palliative

: 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

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