hydroxychloroquine

noun

hy·​droxy·​chlor·​o·​quine hī-ˌdräk-sē-ˈklȯr-ə-ˌkwēn 

-kwin

: a drug derived from quinolone that is taken orally in the form of its sulfate C₁₈H₂₆ClN₃O·H₂SO₄ to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus

Two commonly used antimalarials are chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, both generic drugs.

—Consumer Reports

Originally an antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine is often … prescribed to people with mild, slowly progressing arthritis.

—Samir Sutaria

Examples of hydroxychloroquine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Suspicion turned to anger when scientific leaders kept contradicting his embrace of hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and convalescent plasma. — David Blumenthal, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026

Oz, who has also shared incorrect information about the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as a treatment for Covid, had not seemingly worked in health care policy before taking over as CMS administrator this year. — Leah Feiger, Wired News, 8 Dec. 2025

Additionally, Abraham backed unproven treatments for COVID such as the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and the anti-parasite medication ivermectin. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2025

Abraham, who at the time was a Republican member of Congress, continued to promote hydroxychloroquine after the FDA revoked its emergency use authorization. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hydroxychloroquine

• acini
• aldine
• amine
• arsine
• carinii
• cosine
• delphine
• domine
• latine
• ovine
• pennine
• porcine

Medical Definition

hydroxychloroquine

noun

hy·​droxy·​chlor·​o·​quine -ˈklōr-ə-ˌkwēn, -kwin 

: a drug derived from quinoline that is administered orally in the form of its sulfate C₁₈H₂₆ClN₃O·H₂SO₄ to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus see plaquenil