subacute

adjective

sub·​acute ˌsəb-ə-ˈkyüt How to pronounce subacute (audio)
1
: having a tapered but not sharply pointed form
subacute leaves
2
a
: falling between acute and chronic in character especially when closer to acute
subacute endocarditis
b
: less marked in severity or duration than a corresponding acute state
subacute pain
subacutely adverb

Examples of subacute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Thyroid Gland Disorder Another very rare side effect of ginger is subacute thyroiditis, a condition characterized by a tender, enlarged thyroid gland.16 9. Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2025 Sinusitis creeps into the subacute category when symptoms last a bit longer from four and 12 weeks. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 The grants include $65 million for Los Angeles to refurbish the Metropolitan State Hospital campus in Norwalk into a psychiatric subacute facility for transitional-age youths, a big and glaring need for the region. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025 Somewhere in the middle are subacute coughs, which last between three and eight weeks, says Dr. Soo Jung Cho, a pulmonologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Sarah Klein, Time, 13 May 2025 An acute cough lasts no longer than three weeks, while a subacute cough lasts from three to eight weeks.2 Acute coughs also tend to be less serious, clear up on their own, and do not require a visit to a healthcare provider. Claire Gillespie, Health, 17 Mar. 2024 In 2022, the CDC published clinical practice guidelines for healthcare providers that treat acute, subacute and chronic pain. Omer Awan, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Now home to more than 300 residents receiving subacute skilled care, long-term custodial care and Alzheimer’s special care, the facility has gone through major expansions in 1964, 1979, and 1991. Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of subacute was in 1752

Cite this Entry

“Subacute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subacute. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

subacute

adjective
sub·​acute ˌsəb-ə-ˈkyüt How to pronounce subacute (audio)
1
: falling between acute and chronic in character especially when closer to acute
subacute endocarditis
2
: less marked in severity or duration than a corresponding acute state
subacute pain
subacutely adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!