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 Power plant pollution has also been linked to asthma, chronic lung disease, heart attacks and neurological damage in children. — Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 Special Needs Plans are for people with certain chronic or disabling conditions, as well as those who are eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal and people who live in nursing homes or require the same level of care. — Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Kiwis Are Easier on Your Digestive Tract Experts recommend roughly 25-35g of fiber a day for adults, but most of us don’t get enough in our diets, leading to issues like chronic constipation. — Eleesha Lockett, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2026 While esophagitis itself does not directly cause cancer, the chronic inflammation can in some cases lead to Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition that can increase the higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chronic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chronic

Adjective

With almost 60% of Latino employment still spanning industries that traditionally pay less, Alvarez designed the report to capture growing income and employment in the context of persistent housing costs and working-class populations.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Sheik’s career was marked by a persistent tension between mainstream recognition and his own resistance to the machinery of pop stardom.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 18 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

Crow-Armstrong has gotten to know Williams a bit over the years with the Cubs great a regular presence around the team each spring training.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Lawn maintenance should always include taking regular soil samples to determine nutrient needs, as well as proper watering, weed and disease control, and mowing practices.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of regular

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

Apple's stubborn insistence on keeping base iPhones at 60Hz while budget Android phones offer zippier refresh rates has always baffled me.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
Bigger paychecks sought While the economy may be showing signs of acceleration, stubborn inflation has eroded Americans’ take-home pay.

— Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 18 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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