CHRONIC Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'chronic' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words confirmed and inveterate are common synonyms of chronic . While all three words mean "firmly established," chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome. // a chronic complainer

Q: When can 'confirmed' be used instead of 'chronic'?

The words confirmed and chronic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform. // a confirmed bachelor

Q: When could 'inveterate' be used to replace 'chronic'?

While the synonyms inveterate and chronic are close in meaning, inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable. // an inveterate smoker

chronic

adjective

ˈkrä-nik

Definition of chronic

as in persistent

being such by habit and not likely to change a chronic smoker who has quit—many, many times

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How is the word chronic distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words confirmed and inveterate are common synonyms of chronic. While all three words mean "firmly established," chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome.

a chronic complainer

When can confirmed be used instead of chronic?

The words confirmed and chronic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform.

a confirmed bachelor

When could inveterate be used to replace chronic?

While the synonyms inveterate and chronic are close in meaning, inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable.

an inveterate smoker

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 chronic Enter Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), a minimally-invasive procedure that lessens blood flow to inflamed spots in the knee to reduce chronic pain and swelling. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2026 Nothing about that reaches the employee who is steadily gaining weight, quietly disengaging from exercise or managing chronic stress without any support. — Neepa Patel, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Note that if your sleeping woes turn into chronic insomnia, more targeted, long-term solutions might be needed, such as CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) or prescription medication. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026 My doctor suggested a prescription injectable medication that could help with my chronic hives. — Victoria Ekwenuke, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chronic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chronic

Adjective

The program arrives as aviation faces persistent demand for new pilots.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Rising logistics costs, shrinking margins and persistent supply chain volatility, in particular, are pushing leaders toward agentic AI and machine learning for demand forecasting and inventory placement.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

This was the first female serial killer the show featured, and had a different tone than the Jeffrey Dahmer and Ed Gein seasons.

— Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
During the episode, spirits of some of the most infamous American serial killers who previously checked into the hotel return to celebrate their crimes.

— Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of serial

Adjective

Lowery pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter in addition to possession of a firearm by a felon in July, both Class D felonies with habitual offender status.

— Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 11 Sep. 2026
Most studies have looked at habitual tea intake and its possible effects on liver health rather than directly testing whether drinking a specific number of cups per day affects liver health.

— Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of habitual

Adjective

The cast features not just the creator, who makes the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype her own as ukulele troubadour Lulu, but also a pre-Bridgerton Jonathan Bailey in the wild role of an inveterate womanizer.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
In the guest section, apparently at the invitation of one of the liberal Justices, sat Robert De Niro, an inveterate Trump critic.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of inveterate

Adjective

While the complexities around working within a park that his ancestors had been removed from remain, Mgesi now supports much of his extended family with the steady wage.

— Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Such rhetoric has contributed to Lula’s small but steady lead in most polls.

— Andre Pagliarini, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of steady

Adjective

The 10-year yield’s rapid climb above 5% shows how quickly investors’ expectations have shifted toward additional tightening from the Federal Reserve in light of stubborn inflation.

— Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
Simulations show a surface coating cuts the energy needed to strip sulfur from 2D materials, easing a stubborn chip manufacturing problem.

— Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent for designing their apps in ways that caused children to become addicted and suffer mental-health harms.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026
And Elwood was battling his own demons, having become addicted to opioids prescribed after a hip operation.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of addicted

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“Chronic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chronic. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of chronic

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