Synonym Chooser

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 Catster adds that, even if the cat doesn’t try to eat the dragon, the predator's presence can cause chronic stress in the reptile, leading to health issues. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 Caldwell Presbyterian Church, which is also working with DreamKey, is converting an on-site building into Easter’s Home, 21-units of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025 Post-pandemic demand and chronic underbuilding in the area have left buyers competing fiercely, often bidding tens of thousands above asking. Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025 In people with chronic pain, humor is often linked to better outcomes and improved quality of life. Cas Holman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chronic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chronic
Adjective
  • The Great Lakes region is being drenched by persistent lake-effect rains off Lake Michigan.
    Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This resulted in persistent, runaway inflation and unmanageable national debt.
    Jim Nowlan, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • It was published in serial installments in the magazine Russkiy Vestnik from January, 1879, to November, 1880.
    Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Amazon Web Services suffers widespread outage MAJOR HEADLINES BAYOU MYSTERY – Democrat mayor's 'gaslighting' amid serial killer fears called out by grieving family.
    , FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Lucido's office said Martin also has a habitual offender, fourth-offense notice, subjecting him to life in prison if he is convicted of any of the primary felony charges, according to a release.
    Christina Hall, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Santos was exposed after his victory as a habitual liar.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The La Mancha manor home’s namesake, Josie, (real name is José Fernández-Pacheco) is an inveterate aesthete who is best known to Spanish television audiences as a presenter extraordinaire.
    Maite Sebastiá, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Unless just being an inveterate people-pleaser produces the same result.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Getting a deal done would arguably be even more difficult for Buffalo given that the Bills and Dolphins play in the same division (AFC East) and square off twice every regular season.
    Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The Blue Jays haven’t hit a pinch slam in a regular-season game in more than seven years.
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • With rising tuition, heavy student debt, and a shaky job market, more young workers are rethinking the four-year degree and turning to faster and cheaper routes to a steady career.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Today, her steady hand, institutional knowledge and loyalty continue to guide the Tennessean and inspire her colleagues.
    Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Month over month, that would be the same stubborn pace that has persisted for more than two years.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Results show that microbial iron mining can immobilize toxic metals and convert stubborn pollutants into less harmful compounds.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Exactly why people might become addicted to sugar is unknown.
    Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Deeply troubled parents spoke to senators Tuesday, sounding alarms about chatbot harms after kids became addicted to companion bots that encouraged self-harm, suicide, and violence.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Chronic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chronic. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on chronic

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