apothecaries

plural of apothecary
1
as in pharmacists
a person who prepares drugs according to a doctor's prescription in olden days the apothecary had few drugs that actually cured anything, most substances being little more than pain relievers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in pharmacies
a retail store where medicines and miscellaneous articles are sold the historic village boasts an old-fashioned apothecary that's been there for almost a century and a half

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of apothecaries Everyday rituals, like cooking with intention or creating herbal apothecaries, are becoming magical and meaningful hobbies. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Aug. 2026 There were few professional doctors, so healthcare came from midwives, bonesetters who also cut hair and removed cataracts, ministers, and community members, including apothecaries and plantation root doctors who were knowledgeable about plants. Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 Eventually, hard candies were made from the plant and carried in many apothecaries and general stores. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 June 2026 Belif is predominantly a skin care brand, inspired by 19th-century apothecaries and their herbal medicines, mixed with modern scientific Korean beauty theory. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026 In densely populated neighborhoods of flimsy wooden houses, charcoal braziers tumbled over, fuel tanks ruptured, combustible chemicals in apothecaries exploded, and high winds fanned the flames through alleys. Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026 For decades after the nation’s founding, doctors had competition from homeopaths, herbalists, apothecaries, midwives, and religious healers—not to mention mothers. Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apothecaries
Noun
  • The survey gathered input from 63 health experts, including medical doctors, longevity and aging experts, pharmacists, fitness professionals, dieticians and researchers.
    Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In addition, most states have decoupled the ability of pharmacists to administer the shots from federal guidelines and are instead often relying on the recommendations of medical groups, such as those releasing guidance now.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • When choosing where to live in California, several factors can shape your decision — including your proximity to grocery stores, pharmacies and schools.
    Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Those shots have already begun arriving at pharmacies—in case your pharmacy hasn’t already sent you multiple texts and reminders.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Apothecaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apothecaries. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster