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 Residents and municipal leaders in Puerto Rico have filed lawsuits against the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority over chronic water outages. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 Why chronic insomnia matters Chronic insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in middle-aged and older adults. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026 Researchers enrolled 200 Chinese adults over 50 and randomly assigned them to either tai chi or cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic insomnia. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Early research has shown that a Covid-19 infection can reactivate common, chronic viruses like Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chronic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chronic

Adjective

The scorching temperatures and persistent droughts in June and July mutually reinforced each other to create a hot weather spiral, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
The Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft built to provide persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

Meanwhile, a serial killer is haunting the streets of Los Angeles and targeting their classmates.

— Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
For her latest case, Bridgette is dispatched to the remote East Texas town of Whisper Creek, where a long-dormant serial killer known as The Flower King has resurfaced.

— William Earl, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of serial

Adjective

The Indiana Fever — a habitual middle-of-the-pack franchise, 14 years removed from its only championship — have been on a hot streak on the court lately that has carried them up among the championship contenders.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
More often than not, nobody on that account team has run enough sovereign deployments to be able to distinguish a necessary requirement from a habitual one.

— Michael Leone, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of habitual

Adjective

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
The inveterate white supremacist Woodrow Wilson mouthed anti-colonial rhetoric before reverting to form at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.

— Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026

Definition of inveterate

Adjective

If Vuskovic grows into a Premier League regular and leader at Brighton, that club-record fee will turn into a smart piece of business.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Swoopes made history as the first player to sign a WNBA contract, the first female athlete to receive a Nike signature shoe with the Air Swoopes, and the first WNBA player to record a regular-season triple-double.

— Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of regular

Adjective

Volatile job numbers, stubborn inflation and changes to the Fed’s communications style are all stirring up uncertainty in markets and raising the stakes for upcoming economic data releases — including this week’s inflation report.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
The softening job market may complicate the calculation for the Federal Reserve, which is also battling stubborn inflation.

— Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

Now, with one-year mercenary players plus rapid roster turnover, the first game deters even the most addicted sports gambler.

— Mac Engel July 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
The story follows Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and crew as their owner Bonnie becomes addicted to her new favorite gadget, a kiddie smart tablet known as Lilypad.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 9 July 2026

Definition of addicted

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“Chronic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chronic. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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