symptomatic
adjective
symp·tom·at·ic
ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-tik 
1
a
: being a symptom of a disease
b
: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
2
: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
symptomatic treatment
a symptomatic patient
3
: characteristic, indicative
his behavior was symptomatic of his character
Examples of symptomatic in a Sentence
a fever's refusal to respond to antibiotics is symptomatic of a viral infection
Recent Examples on the Web
Two patients became symptomatic after three hours, while another took 15 hours to start experiencing symptoms.
—
Angela Haupt, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
The kind of talk that was completely symptomatic of our usual airless conversations.
—Hazlitt, 2 Apr. 2025
The Trump advisor’s dumb move may also be symptomatic of our growing addiction to smartphones and dependence on Zoom meetings.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
For chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension, the initial stages of those diseases are typically not very symptomatic.
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symptomatic
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Angela Haupt, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
The kind of talk that was completely symptomatic of our usual airless conversations.
—Hazlitt, 2 Apr. 2025
The Trump advisor’s dumb move may also be symptomatic of our growing addiction to smartphones and dependence on Zoom meetings.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
For chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension, the initial stages of those diseases are typically not very symptomatic.
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symptomatic
Cite this Entry
“Symptomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symptomatic. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
symptomatic
adjective
symp·tom·at·ic
ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik
1
a
: being a symptom (as of disease)
an itchy skin rash is symptomatic of poison ivy
b
: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
a symptomatic patient
2
: showing a quality or identity : characteristic
Medical Definition
symptomatic
adjective
symp·tom·at·ic
ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik
1
a
: being a symptom of a disease
gummas symptomatic of syphilis
b
: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
2
: concerned with or affecting symptoms
symptomatic treatment
3
: having symptoms
a symptomatic patient
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