throm·bo·lyt·ic
ˌthräm-bə-ˈli-tik 
: destroying or breaking up a thrombus
a thrombolytic agent
thrombolytic therapy
: a thrombolytic drug : clot-buster
Examples of thrombolytic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Examples of thrombolytic drugs include Activase (alteplase) and Retavase (reteplase).24
What Is a Myocardial Infarction?
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 20 Sep. 2024
Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
The person with the heart attack has no contraindications to thrombolytic therapy (e.g., active bleeding).
—Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024
The first real treatment breakthrough came with the arrival of thrombolytics, colloquially known as clot-busters: drugs used to break down clots found in blood vessels.
—Eva Holland, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2023
They would then be hustled off for a brain CT scan, a requirement before the thrombolytic could be administered.
—Mark Prather, STAT, 20 Nov. 2021
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Adjective
Thrombolysis, also known as thrombolytic therapy or fibrinolytic therapy, is a treatment that dissolves blood clots to restore normal blood flow – an approach routinely used in emergencies, such as heart attacks, strokes, and severe blood clots in the lungs or legs.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Examples of thrombolytic drugs include Activase (alteplase) and Retavase (reteplase).24
What Is a Myocardial Infarction?
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 20 Sep. 2024
Noun
In some cases, patients benefit from receiving thrombolytic (clot-dissolving) medication, but that decision depends a careful assessment of several clinical factors and a discussion between the physician and patient regarding possible benefits and risks.
—Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
The person with the heart attack has no contraindications to thrombolytic therapy (e.g., active bleeding).
—Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024
The first real treatment breakthrough came with the arrival of thrombolytics, colloquially known as clot-busters: drugs used to break down clots found in blood vessels.
—Eva Holland, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2023
They would then be hustled off for a brain CT scan, a requirement before the thrombolytic could be administered.
—Mark Prather, STAT, 20 Nov. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Thrombolytic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrombolytic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
thrombolytic
1 of 2 adjective
throm·bo·lyt·ic
ˌthräm-bə-ˈlit-ik
: destroying or breaking up a thrombus
a thrombolytic agent
thrombolytic therapy
thrombolytic
2 of 2 noun
: a thrombolytic drug (as streptokinase or urokinase) : clot-buster
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