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 Joan Rubinger overcame a catastrophic biking accident that left her paralyzed to become an influential pain-relief specialist helping top-tier athletes get back on the field after acute and chronic injuries. — Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Medical uses Buprenorphine’s principal use is in the treatment of OUD, a chronic condition characterized by problematic opioid use despite harmful consequences. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 Studies have proven that regularly consuming whole grains has a positive effect on health, reducing certain markers that indicate chronic inflammation. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026 And yet in 2020, Jian announced his retirement, his storied career cut short by chronic wrist and arm injuries. — Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chronic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chronic

Adjective

In his inaugural Jackson Hole speech as chairman, Warsh warned that persistent inflation may necessitate further monetary tightening.

— William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Mehta increased his price target on FANG stock to $220 from $212 and reiterated a buy rating, citing the company's capital-efficient volume growth as oil prices remain high amid persistent supply disruption in the Middle East.

— TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

The cops don’t entirely buy that their serial killer is a high-school student, even as Bret identifies Robert by name.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Loosely based on the 1987 movie Black Widow and created by Elizabeth Meriwether, Furious stars Rossum as Alice Black, an FBI agent who is tracking a serial killer (played by Lola Petticrew).

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of serial

Adjective

Subsequent research actually backed him up, finding that habitual calculator use before students had internalized basic arithmetic weakened their mental fluency and fact retrieval.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
But her kindly and supportive cop boyfriend Nick (Brandon Perea) rightly insists that the duo should perhaps move out of the house when Gemma’s habitual nightmares intensify.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 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

The first-place Sox (72-65) head into the final month of the regular season with a three-game lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians (69-68), who were off on Monday.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Aesha sends Kayley to deal with it, but a regular sink plunger can’t do the job — Nathan has to suction the stuff out with the wet vacuum.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of regular

Adjective

This reduces the urgency for the ECB to continue raising interest rates in July, with markets now leaning toward the view that the ECB will hold rates steady this month.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Hammack voted to raise rates at the Fed’s last meeting in July, but she was outvoted by fellow members of the Federal Open Market Committee who wanted to keep them steady.

— Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of steady

Adjective

Wilson brought up actor Matthew Perry, who had been undergoing ketamine-infusion therapy and became addicted, leading him to acquire the drug outside the safety of a clinic.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Researchers say Meta's efforts to reduce the risk of children becoming addicted to the scrolling features of social media platforms have been largely unsuccessful.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of addicted

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“Chronic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chronic. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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