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
What the research shows A study of more than 11,000 people published in The Lancet in 2024 demonstrated that nasal saline irrigation, initiated at the first sign of symptoms and performed up to six times per day, reduced the duration of symptomatic illness by approximately two days.
—
Mary J. Scourboutakos, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
The inspectors told the nursing home to transfer all 68 stable COVID-positive patients — symptomatic and asymptomatic — to hospitals, according to Menashe Shapiro, a spokesman for Fair Havens’ ownership.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The goal was to track both the presence of viruses and the frequency of symptomatic illness over time.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
The novelist Harold Brodkey witnessed a symptomatic scene.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for symptomatic
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Mary J. Scourboutakos, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
The inspectors told the nursing home to transfer all 68 stable COVID-positive patients — symptomatic and asymptomatic — to hospitals, according to Menashe Shapiro, a spokesman for Fair Havens’ ownership.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The goal was to track both the presence of viruses and the frequency of symptomatic illness over time.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
The novelist Harold Brodkey witnessed a symptomatic scene.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 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 25 Nov. 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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